D' Banos

A Day to Remember

2010-03-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

Saturday March 20, 2010
It has been a week that I experience an important day in my dear life. It was on March 13, to be exact when my wife relayed to me that someone had telephoned me that he wanted to pay me a visit.

She received the call at around noon. I enquired the caller's name from my wife, but she told me the caller didn't want to identify himself. For tthe next three hours or so I had been guessing about the caller's identity.

At around 3 in the evening, a Honda Civic, stopped at our gate. Out came a fat bearded man, two women and 2 young girls. I went to the gate to welcome them. The total stranger smiled at me. My curiosity increased. The man smiled and he expected me to address him. My memory lane was totally blocked. He asked, Remember me?" My memory went back to my college days and asked," Were we college mates? His answer was in the negative. I threw another million dollar question, "Are you a techer?" Negative again. After throwing few more questions, I received negative responses. before apologising for my short memory, he amiled and said, " Ahmad Kemin."

The revealation of his identity,brought me back my backlane memory. My brain trailed back to an time zone that had brought my memory lates to 1966 which is 43 years ago. Imagine meeting someone who was out of sight and our of mind for 43 years! I was 18 -year-old lad from Batu Pahat and Ahmad Kemin was a 19-year-old lad from Kluang Johor. God had made us to meet as temporary teachers at a private school, Jubilee English School at Jalan Haji Manan, Kluang, Johor.

I stayed at my late brother's house at Jalan Haji Manan, while Ahmad stayed with his parents and siblings at Hospital Quarters. Our comandareship was very close. He used to accompany me back to my parents' house in Batu Pahat and I used to visit his family home too. The bond between us ended in December 1966 and we parted ways, I managed to to be a trainee teacher in Language Institute, Pantai Valley, Kuala Lumpur, while Ahmad joined FELDA.

But how did Ahmad manage to trace my whereabouts? All these tears, my name was always in his memory. So on that Saturday, he drove to my village, in Batu Pahat, and he succeeded in locating my brother's house and it was my niece who gave my address and my telephone number to himd.

Albeit we went out of sight and out of sight for 43 years I did enquired from friends and acquaitance about Ahmad, whom I came to know he was in FELDA. Fortunately Ahmad did the same. History has it made, I was posted to Ayer Baloi Pontian Secondary School from 1969 to 1973. My bachelorhood ended when I got married to Azizah, a Muarian, in December 1970. Our first child, Julianaa, a Bank Officer, was born on 7 October 1971 and our second chilld, Dato' Shafik, a corporate figure, was born on 21st October, 1974.From 1974 to 1982 I applied to teach in sultan Allauddin Riayat Shah 1, Pagoh, Muar Johor. It during my tenure in this school that I went to University Malaya to do my Diploma in ESL in 1978-1979. Our youngest child, Mohammad asshad, a computer scientist cum musician was born on 28 August 1982.

My life history made a 360 degree about turn when I went to Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois to pursue my BA and MScD from 1982 - 1985. Upon completion of my studies I was assigned to Institute Technology MARA, Shah Alam from August to November 1985.As of December 1, 1985 I was transferred to ITM Melaka till I officially retired on January 25, 2004. From 27 January 2004 till now I serve as a contract Associate Professor in the same instituition.

Ahamd Kemin's life began as a FELDA officer in Kluang, Johor and he was married to a nurse, coincidently, like my wife too. He got married at 30 and he is blessed with 4 children and 1 grand daughter. Throughout his service, Ahmad never served outside of the State of Johor and he retired as the Manager of a FELDA scheme in Kota Tinggi, Johor, in 2003.

Ahmad Kemin, whom I knew 43 years ago was a handsome, intelligent and talkative personality, Physically he has changed totally. He is fat,bearded qnd open-minded. His only character that he still cheerishes is his talkativeness. Our meeting was being dominated by him talking about his glorious days in FELDA.

God is Great. He made us meet after 43 years when we are in the dawn of our lives. Thanks God, we are still kicking with good minds. Hopefully one day I will make a trip to High Castle, Kota Tinggi in English, one day.

Xong Hee Fatt Choy

2010-02-13T04:28:00.000-08:00

Saturday 13 February 2010
To my Chinese friends and colleagues, Xong Hee Fatt Choy. May the tiger bring happiness, prosperity and good health to us.

My students left for homes to be with their beloved ones on Friday and they would be spending a week to release their hardships while in campus. Hopefully Sarah, Md Amzah, Atiqah, Shahrul Nizam, Joanne, Md Nazir , just to name afew, would be fresh and be ready to spend another two months before their final examinations in April.

Holiday is always a pleasure and a real happening if one is able to manage the time wisely. Go and visit you long lost friends and don't forget your siblings and relatives too. Concurrently try to coax new friends who might be able to offer new insights and perspectives on new issues.

Happy Holidays and ensure yourselves maximise your times during the 7 - day stint and don't fail to turn up at Jalan Hang Tuah when the time is due.
Happy Holidays.

Dr Bano

The Days are Shorter

2010-02-03T06:17:00.000-08:00

Assalamualaikum/Good Day Every Able Bodied Humans
January 26 has always been memorable to me. It is a day when I was legally registered as the citizen of this planet earth. It was on Monday, 26th day of January, 1948 when my late beloved Mum, Hjh Kamsiah Hj Salleh, delivered me to this world in a small village, about 3 km from Bandar Penggaraam, Batu Pahat Johor.

My parents, Hj Salim and Hj Kamsiah, provided the basic necessities for me to grow through the Channels of Life. I attended my primary school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Soga, Batu Pahat at the age of 5. In fact I was the youngest baby student of my class and I was the teacher's pet most of my student's life. On the fifth year of my schooling I was selected to attend the Special Malay Class in Lim Poon Primary Boys' School where most of the lady teachers taunted me as everybody' lover.

At 12, I became the student of High School Batu Pahat till I sat and passed my Lower Certificate of Education, Federation of Malaya Certificate and Senior Cambridge. During my studies in High School, I was very active in co-curicullar activities. Among the post that I held was the Football Captain of Ibrahim House, Secretary of Boy's Scout and Assistant Scout Master. My commitment to the scoun was rewarded by being presented with the Royal Scout by His Royal Highness Sultan Ismail, the grandfather of the newly appointed the Sultan of Johor, HRH Sultan Tengku Ibrahim.

My teachers have Managed to coax me as a teacher. The first taste of teaching came when I was appointed as a temporary teacher at Sekolah Menengah Senggarang, Batu Pahat. Then I had a short stint in Sekolah Menengah Jubilee, Kluang. Before my 18th Birthday I managed to secure a place as a Trainee Teacher in Language Institute, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur (1967-69).

While waiting to go to college, I attended the Naval Cadet Selection in Ministry of Defence. I was the youngest candidate ever to attend such interview. Frankly, Abang Naim, was very keen to make me as a naval officer. Surprisingly, after two weeks stint in the camp, I managed to enter the Final Board of Selectors who would send us for two-year Naval training Course in Dartmouth, England. Luckily I was deeply interested to be a uniformed man, and I was among the three, out of nine, who failed the final interview.

In Janury 1967, I registered myself as a Teacher Trainee majoring in Malay and Geography. During my college days I was College Rugby player and I was the singer and drummer for our band, the Rogollers. Our band had performed in many functions, organised by students and the college. We became some sort of celeberity among collegians.

My first posting as a trained teacher was at Sekolah Menengah Ayer Baloi Pontian (1969-1973). Once I was appointed as acting Senior Assistant of that school at the age of 21. I was as popular as ever, I hadv tobsettled down early to my wife Azizah. Our first daughter, Julianaa, RhB Bank Officer, was born during my tenure in Pontian.

In 1974, I was transferred to Sekolah Menengah Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah I Pagoh Muar. I was appointed as the Afternoon Supervisor, Sports Secretary, Scout Master, English Key Personnel and other posts. in 1979, I took up Diploma English as a Second Langyage, University Malaya. After my diploma studies I was transferred to I Sekolah Menengah Jalan Junid Muar.

In August 1982, I was chosen to read BA/MA (English) in USA and managed to complete both degrees in less than three years. Upon the completion of my studies I was posted to ITM Shah Alam in August 1985. After Shah Alam, I was transferred to UiTM Melaka (1985-now). Among the posts that I have carried in UiTM Melaka were: Language Coordinator, Deputy Director, Students' Affairs, Associate Professor.

My commitment and dedication are always high. I was appointed by HRH Agong as an Assistant Superitendent of Police in the Royal Malaysian Police. During my younger days I represented UiTm in bowling, volleyball and tennis.

My days are getting shorter. I celebrated my 62nd Birthday on Tuesday, January 26, 2010. Family and friends asked what did I wish for? Good Mental Alert, Good Health, Strong Iman and Good rezeki.

To the young, especially my children and students - may hay while the sun shines.

Dr Bano
Wed. February 4, 2010

Back to Campus

2010-01-10T23:28:00.000-08:00

Back to Campus
Alhamdulillah! After about 6 weeks of rest and leisure, Part 5, 4, 2, 1 students were back in campus on 4 Janary, 2010.

Hopefully my students would be back with new motivation, experience and dedication. Thus my students must strive to achieve the best in 2010. You must be stronger physically and spiritually. Be positive thinkers in your daily chores. Positive thinking must be supplemented by positive environment, motivation and spiritual belief. Having these 4 qualities, on would be able to have a purpose, focus, plan and strategy. Then we are on the road to excellence.

Finally we must work together to make this world a best place to live in.

Dr Bano

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T02:24:00.000-08:00

Assalamualaikum and Happy New Year
This salutation are directed to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. New Year means the old year (2009) has evaporated in the course of history.

At mid-night I was asleep while I was waiting for the final moments of 2009. I was awakened on the new year day at around 0130 hours. Instantly I expanded my lungs to inhale the fresh air of 2010. Well, it was Friday January 1, 2010, 25 days prior to my 62nd Birthday.

What have I done and what have I achieves in the 365 days of 2009? Firstly I would describe about my family. I thanked Allah for giving good health to me, my wife, 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Nobody experienced any shortfall in our health.

Next would be my family's dairy. Datuk S, took Siti Atiqah, 22-year-old lass from Kuala Kubu Bharu, as his new wife, in October, in a grand wedding reception in KKB and Muar. Prior to his wedding day, he sponsored 21 members of our family on a 4-day-trip to Jakarta. My grandchildren really enjoyed the trip. Since then Dato' S, my wife have made more than 2 trips on business trip to Jakarta. As for me, I went to Bandung and Padang, Indonesia in December.
Nothing much to scribble on 2009.
Happy New Year to every able-bodied humanoid.

Dr Bano

Steps to Happiness

2009-09-14T18:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers
As I had already mentioned in my latest blog, Allah says that fasting Muslims will be happiest whenever he is going to break his fast and the memont he is going to meet Allah.Hence all Muslims must totally submit to Allah in order to receive special treatment from Him.

Today, Tuesday, 15/9/09, is just 4 days from the spectecular day, Eidil Fitri, which is going to be celebrated by most Muslims througout the world. Muslims, young and old, would be wearing their best attire, eating delicious and luxurious meals, visiting families and playgrounds.

1st Shawal 1432, would always be cherished by every Muslim on this planet earth.
Eidil Fitri brings joys and happiness to most Muslims, but at the same it may bring sorrow and gloominess to some families who have just lost their loved ones through tragidies, sickness and other means.

Cometh What May, Sunday 20th September 2009, must be celebrated with a lesser fanfare because the final examination is just around the corner. Whatever, to my students who are making their trip homes please recite doa before embarking on your your journey home to be with your loved ones. To the names that are still embedded in my CPU Selamat Hari Raya
UiTM KAG
1. Mohd Fariq
2. Suzi
3. Sharipah
KBM
1. Md Azmi
2. Sara
3. Natasha
4. Md Danial
5. Shahrul Nizam
6. Antarasul
7. Md Bazeris
8. Nor Aishah
9. Zulhelmi
10. Md Shafik
11. Hafitz
12. Md Thalha
13. Khairunisa
14. Asma
15. Nur Hayati
and to all of you in BAS 5A, BACC 4A, BBin 3C, BBHR3a, BACC 1A, BACC 1b and BBHR1A enjoy your Eidil while you can.

Maaf Zahir Bathin

Home Address: 37 Jalan Rajawali 1
Taman Berkat Tanjung Agas
84000 Ledang Johor
0123630698

The Burning of the Sins

2009-09-08T02:18:00.000-07:00

Assalamualaikum
Today is the 18th day in the Holy Month of Ramadhan. Muslims, young and old, are carrying out a ritual that have practised by others before them.

To fast, Shyyam in Arabic, is to abstain from water, food and sexual desires. Children as young as 7 years old are expected to embark on a noble practice of fasting. People who plans to fast must place a pledge, nyawaitu in Arabic, after taking their late supper. Anyone who fails to offer his pl;edge would not be able to perform the obligatory fast.

Fasting for more than 12 hours needs a lot of guts, patience and endurance.

Au revoir

Long Lay Off

2009-08-14T19:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers
It has been months that I had my pieces of my mind in my blog. Call it what it maya, complacency, laziness, lazzie-fairre, or whatever. Finally I back to my trueself, an academician.

I have ben busy with my social and family obligations lately. For the past six weekends I had been outsataions during weekends; 4 times to Kuala Lumpur and twice to Johor bahru to fulfill my social and family obligations. The most memorable weekeend was on the 8 th of August, 2009, whereby the whole members of the family made a trip to Kuala Kubu Baru to accompany Dato' Shafik, Dato' S, to take Siti Atikah, 22, as his new wife. The solemn ceremony was held in Kelompang Mosque, at around 1030 am. The ceremony was withnessed by about 100 peolple. Then it was followed by the wedding reception at around 100 pm. Alhamdulillah every went as planned.

We headed back to KL at around 300 pmr . After Asr prayer, my wife and I left KL for Muar and we reached home at around 730 pm. We were accompanied by Nuri Angkasa and Kak Ngah and had our dinner at Kelantese Corner with Sup Ekor, Kailan and dessert. We sent Nuri to his daughter's house in Taman Tanjung and we were finally homed by 930 pm.

Now that I am a bit free of so many committments, I am able to share my experience to dear readers. This semester has not ben favourable to me because my time tble needs me to be in campus till 430 pm and 630 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays. I am currently teaching 7 different groups of students in 3 different codes. But I am enjoying every minutes of my teaching profession. To me teaching is an honour rathen than a burden. I believe if ever I would be given a second life, I would still want to be a teacher. Being a teacher is to share your knowledge, experience and intelligence. A teacher doesn't only try to make his students intelligent, but also to guide the students to have a strong character. Thus it means to say a teacher must ensure intelligent students must be borne with a strong personality. Students must also be taught to master Intelligent Quotient, Spiritual Quotient and Emotional Quotient too.

That's all for now and meet me in the next blog soon.

Au Revoir.

Dr Bano

Family Togetherness

2009-03-08T17:03:00.000-07:00

Monday, March 9, 2009

Today is the 12th Rabiul Awal 1430 of the Islamic Calendar.

Malaysia, one of the Islamic countries on this planet earth, is declared as a Public Holiday. Offices, schools, banks, organisations factories are close. Last night, most mosques and suraus held special congregation by reciting the verses of the Berzanzi after Maghrib Prayer. Light cookies and drinks were soon served .

Alhamdulillah, all members of my family are home, the last being Mohammad Asshad, who was back from Manila at around 1.00 am this morning. I started my day by performing Solat Subuh in Surau AlNasirin and I recited Yassin upon reaching home. Then when I was busy banging the keyboard, my brilliant grand daughter, Maryam, came and disturbed my chores. As usual she wanted to play around with ABC. Hey where are my beloved twins? Abang, the elder, and Anan, the younger, are still sleeping and they would be awake any time now.

So what will be my itinenery today? The Muar Mosque will be conducting a talk on Prophet Muhammad (saw) at around 0830 hrs. Well, I might as well be there because I am given leave for this great day.

Salam.

Family History

2009-03-08T16:49:00.000-07:00

Monday, March 2, 2009
For the first time in our history that all members of my family, except me, will be overseas. It is normal that I would be abroad while my family is at home.

Firstly, Dato' Shafik, my second son, left for Jakarta on Friday, Feb. 28. Secondly. my wife, Azizah, my only daughter, Julianaa and grandaughter, Maryam, will be leaving KLIA for Jakarta on Tuesday, March, 3rd at around 4.00 pm. Lastly, my youngest child, Mohammad Asshad, will head for Manila at around 1000 pm.

My wife, daughter, son and grand daughter are in Jakarta for the launching of Jomstar.com, while my youngest child and son will be in Manila to perform in one of the hotels there. So what am I doing back home. As usual I will have to perform my duties as a lecturer in UiTM Melaka. Life will be pretty tough because I have to do the house chores myslef.

Au Revoir

Presentation Days are here again

2009-02-26T18:52:00.000-08:00

Friday February 27, 2009 1055 hrs

As the title displays, presentation days are here again.

My BEL 492 (Presentation Skills) students from the Faculty of Business Administration , Finance, Human Resource, Insurance and International Business, have been extremely busy in lieu of their presentations from Monday, February 23 till March 5, 2009. In doing so, they have been meeting me or calling and SMS (ing) me at odd hours in order to have their final tips and touches. Sometimes one would call just to inform me that they wanted to have their titles changed.

Students of this subject would be ensured to be able to plan, prepare and finally orally present topics of their choices. They are given freedom to present any topic based on discriptive, narrative, demonstrstive or agumentative issues in 5 - 7 minutes.

This course ensures students to be able to be a good oral presenters on any isuues in English. The main ideas must be derived from reliable sources. Hence are hardpress to scramble therough journal, internets and bood. All facts and statements must be supplemented by reliable sources.

Students who aspire to score good grades in this subject, must dress to kill in order to secure high marks in delivery. On numerous occasions I have reminded students that examination, presentation and interviews are unreal. Hence one has to be abnormal in order to excell. In aiming to score in any examination, a student must be willing to sacrifice his hobbies, sleeping and eating habits. One have to work, work and work in order to excell. One have to dress and present well during an interview. Transform yourself from a nobody to look like a new somebody. Thus in a presentation you will have to look differently, speak differently and will have to be intelligent as well as to look intelligent too.

Presentation, interview and examination is cruel and sometimes inhuman. After sacrificing our youth, time as well as money we are unable to score as expected. Hence students must study consistantly. Study step by step or piece by piece. There is no compulsion in education. You must be the master of your own destiny.

Remember when we were below 7 years, our mums breastfed us, below 17 our eachers always bottle fed us, below 21 our lectures always spoonfed us, but after 21 we must feed ourselves. Now that you are above 21 no one is to feed you, It is you who have to prepare your own food. So undergraduates must be ready and prepared to study on your own and be be ready to beg for tips from lecturers. Point to remember that the job market is very competitive. Employers will only hire graduates whose CGPA are 3 and above. Gone are the days when any graduate will be employed regardless of thier academic standings.

Some students were good in their presentations. They excelled because of thier language commands or of their Audio Visual Aids or because of their skills to deliver thier skills. Students should dress well, sometimes I consider dress to kill.

I am invigilating BEL 462 BAS 4A and 4B students in Levek 13 now. One student, Nabilla, BAS 4B, is absent because she had to attend family matters in Johor Bahru. Currently 47 students are cracking their brains to score in the test.

Keep on sacrificing your youth, time and enenrgy in order to lead a successful life in futur.

Au revoire.
Dr Bano

Home Alone

2009-02-07T11:23:00.000-08:00

Sunday February 8, 2009 0325 hrs

Some bloggers would be wondering what the heck this 61-year-old blogger is stll awake in the wee hours of this Sunday morning.

Well, I have been staying alone at home because my dear wife was away to KL to attend my youngest grandchild, Aiman Daniel Dato' Shafik, who turned 5 on February, 6. Happy Birthday, Darling.

By being alone in a four-bedroom semi-detached house, I occupied my time doing the routine chores like performing my Magrib and Isy' prayers at the nearby surau, reading Surah Yassin, browsing and surfing the internet and reading the newspapers. Apart from that I did light cooking to fill my empty bowel.

Usually I play golf on Saturday morning. Unfortunately the golf club was closed for Chinese NewYear Golf Tournment. So the whole of Saturday morning was spent on preparing light breakfast, cleaning the house, attending to old notes and watching tv. I did not have lunch yesterday but I have snacked on whatever goodies and cookies available in the refrigerator and the deep freezer.

After Zuhr prayer I drove downtown to buy the transmission and engine oil from my friend's shop and it cost me RM 152.00 for both items. Then I went to change my a new frame of my spectacles at RM 260. Soon after I contacted Ah Lek, my personal mechanic, to change the transmission and engine oil.

I was homed at around 1630 hrs and I performed ny Asar's prayer at around 1700 hrs. At around 1730, Ah Leck took my car to have the oil changed.He sent back my car at around 1830 hrs and charged RM 40.00 for his services. We had coffee and cookies togerther till he left at 1910 hrs. Hurriedly I had my clothes changed to baju Melayu annd sarung and I headed to the surau. Immediately after Maghrib prayer, I I headed home to read Surah Yassin.

In the midst of reading Surah Yassin, my niece, Semah and her family from Kelantan dropped by while on her way from Batu Pahat to KL. She prepared drink anf served whatever cookies and snacks available. As were were chatting, Aida, DAD 1C studen called to enquire about the topic of her group discussion. I promised to catch up with her later, but I am yet to call her. Semah her family left at around 2100 hrs.

Soon after her depature, I performed my Isy' prayer and hurriedly rode my motorcycle to attend to a khenduri at Hasbi's house. The ceremony was over at 2145 hrs. I tuned on the tv to see some entetainment and news programmees. Later I realised that the tv was watching me instead of the other way round. I was`awakened at around 0130 hours, Sunday morning. I cleaned myself, took my wuduk and performed the Tahajjud and Hajjat prayers. After completing my prayers, I surfed the net until I found the nerve to write this blog.

It's 0415 hors Sunday, February 8, 2009, I have to sign out now.

Mondaygitise

2009-02-02T05:04:00.000-08:00

Monday February, 2, 2009 2105 hrs

Today is Monday. Some called it Black Monday or Monday Blues or Monday fever or Mondaygitise.

Today is the first day of the second half of the semester and I had to be lecturing in Alor Gajah Campus. As usual, I made my preparation to lecture BEL 120 to DAD 1C students till 0130 hours. My dear wife woke me up at 0530 and hurriedly I cleansed myself; performed my Subuh prayer before reading Surah Yassin.

Breakfast was served at around 0645 hrs. While I was having breakfast, I tuned on the usual Religious programme on TV 9. I left home for Lendu at around 0745 hrs. Alhamdulillah, I reached there at 0845 hrs. Since I had about two hours before lecture, I contacted my dear Hassan to accompany me for breakfast at Sungai Petai. We had nasi lemak, soup and Teh Tarik.

Hassan and I left the favourite gourmet rendezvous and reached Lendu campus at 1000 hrs. After dropping Hassan at the Guard House, I hunted for a parking space. Unfortunately, no space was available. Come what may, I had to park my JJK, and I did it illegally. Then I met En Khamis and chatted for about half an hour before walking to Lecture Room Y 204.

Upon opening the door, I saw 15 familiar and sunken faces glaring at me. Then I heard a voice saying Happy Birthday.I t came from Aida who must have read my blog informing the bloggers that I did celebrate my 61 st Birthday on Monday, january 26, 2009, which coincided with the Chinese New year. I thanked her for her wishes.

After offering Salam, I noticed that Md Faliq, my class representative, was on medical leave due to allergic to bees. The seven men looked sad and sleepy while the eight women were rather energetic and responsive, except Suzilla who looked so forlorn for whatever reason she might be experiencing.

Well, I saw some attitude changes happened whereby everyone was punctual. That's maight be a good omen to start a new semester. The three-hour lecture was spent on tenses and I divided the class in 5 groups in lieu of the Class discussion. The class was dismissed early to allow the groups to meet, dicuss and prepare for their maiden group discussion nextMonday.

I made an early journey home via AMJ expressway and I was homed by 1430. Hurriedly I performed my Zuhr prayer and I had my lunch. Immediately after lunch, I had my favourite siesta till 1640 hrs. By 1650 hrs I had performed my Asy' prayer. At 1920 I headed for Surau AlNasirin for my Maghrib prayer, and by 2040 I had performed my Isy' prayer.

During my Isy' prayer, Antarausl, BAS 3A Class Representative, called. My wife insisted he called me later. At around 2050 he sent SMS enquiring about the book critique from. Immediately I sent the form through the mail at antarasul86@yahoo.com.

Finally the first day of the second part of the semester is over. Tomorrow will be new day in Hang Tuah Campus. The lecture will stretch on till May when the students would be taking their final examinations. By now students musthave to be focussed in their studies. My professional advice is to study step by step or piece by piece.

God Luck in your academic endeavour.

Dr Bano

Semester Break for the Year

2009-01-31T05:54:00.001-08:00

Saturday Jan. 31 st, 2009 2154 hrs
The hours of UiTM's Semester Break are numbered.

By Monday Feb. 2 nd, 2009, the serene scenario at Lendu and City Campus would be revitalised.

For the past one week, the lecture rooms were dead silent because the diploma and degree students were away for a week break. Come Monday, the good and aspiring students would be in the lecture halls, labs and studios, while the non-aspiring ones would inculcate their old habits of being tardy in their attendances because Old Habits Die Hard.

Some people may consider 7 days is too short to dive into their souls in order to quest for their weaknesses, while to some they utilise this short break to repair their long lost dreams and aspirations by embarking on some new plans and strategies to pursue their academic excellence. 7 days night be a short stint, but to people who are time conscious, 7 days, trasformed to minutes would be 7x24x60= 10080. See how have we spent the time given by God? Have we made the time beneficially or productively? To Usain Bolt, 100 M Gold Medalist in the Beijing Olympics, of Trinidad, he covered a distance 0f 100 M within 9.65 seconds and what have we covered in 7 days (10080 x 60 = 604800 seconds)? Some may have refurbished their mental and physical strangths, while some may have made some financal gains by working part time, while, unfortunately, some may have only increased thier sleeping time.

As some say Out of Sight, Out of Mind, I did miss the names of my DAD IC, BBIB 3A, BBIN 3A, Bas $A students. Luckily I could still visualise some characters such as Faliq and Suzilla (DAD), Antarasul (BAS), Badrul (BBIN), to name a few, and I hope to meet and welcome my students by Monday.

Hopefully my dear students would be back to campus in high spirits in order to acquire a piece of paper called diploma or degree. In fact, students are comically labelled as paper chasers in the academic terminology. We would be chasing for Wealth, Power and Prestige throughout our lifes.So dear students, make the right steps to be successful by having proper Purpose, Focus, plan and Strategies. In addition, we must enslave ourselves to Allah swt in whatever we are involved in.

Welcome Back to Campus.

Dr Bano

The Trend Goes On

2009-01-30T10:22:00.000-08:00

Saturday, January 31, 2009 0224 hrs

Some people wold be surprised that I am still awake a the wee hours of this morning. To me, an academician, leepin late is the nor, whle sleeping early is the exception.

Sometimes in order to be abnormal, one has to break the norm. Usually I would end my day at around mid-night and I would be getting up at 0445 in the morning. But in order to be abnormal, I would sleep after Isya' prayer, i.e. arround 2130 hrs,and I would be awaken at aound 0100 hrs. Usually I would clean myslef and perform Tahajjud and Hajjat prayers. Sometimes I would prolong my communication with Allah swt by reading Yassin and reciting the praises to Him or I would br surfing the cyberword by reading the local and foreingn blogs and websites.

Usually I would fall asleep at around 0300 hrs and I would be awakened at around 0445 or 0500 hrs to continue my normal routines chores. Having cleaned myself, I would be offering the Solat Qabliaah (Before) Subuh preceeding the Subuh Prayer. Then I would be reading Surah Yassin, followed by Doa Haikaal. Soon after, I would get dress and had my breakfast before leaving my wife to fend herself alone at around 0650 headding for MARA Universitty of Technology, Melaka, about 40 km from home.

That's how I spend the night life all these years. Hopefully I would not fail tto perform my Tahajjud, Hajat and Tauat prayers every nights till my dying days. Insy' Allah.

Dr Bano
0244 hrs

Semester Break

2009-01-29T02:27:00.000-08:00

Thursday, January, 29, 2009
Well, well, it has been quite a while, I have stayed away from my blog.
This is the first blog from a 61-year-old blogger. My 61st birthday was on Monday, January, 26, 2009. How does it feel your chronological age touches 61? Physically, I am a bit show in my actions now; my tee-off lacks the distance I used o swing in my golfing; my clebrum is nt firm and sometimes I swayed while walking; my vision is perfect; my hearing is still good.; my appetite is a bit decreasing; my sense of smell is still strong; my heart still beats normally; my love for music is still maintained and for reading is still high.
Conversely, my mental strength is still sharp; I still take intereset in politics, economics, current issues;I could still browse new information from the internet, books, journals; I would still read Yassin twice daily; I would be spending hours in getting the latest news from newspapers and the idiot box andI would also be active in sharing what I know with my students in public speaking, reading and grammar.
In addition, as a strong devotee of Islam I fully submitted to the Creator by praying and reading the Yassin as a way of life. Maghrib and Isyak prayers would be performed at the nearby chapel or musalla.
At 61, my 37-year-old Julianaa, RhB Bank Officer in Kajang, married to Abd Latif, for the past 7 years, is blessed with 6-year-old twin boys, Farhad amd Farhan, and 4-year-old, beuatiful and intelleigent Mariam Khatijah.; my second child, 34-year-old Datuk Shafik, a widower, is blesssed with 6-year-old Fathin and 4-year-old Aiman and my youngest child, 26-year-old Mohammad Asshad, acomputer scientist-turned musician, is still single.
Materilaistically I own a semi-detached house, a E230 Mercedes Bence and Proton Saga and a piece of oil palm land.
I thank Allah swt for what He has blessed me sucessful children, healthy and intelligent grandchildren. What else do I need to ask for? Health, Iman and Takwa and Success to my children and grandchildren.
Thank you Allah swt, may I age another year?

Moody Blues

2008-11-16T20:47:00.000-08:00

Monday November 17, 2008

November and December, or NoDC to me, are the two fredaulant months to Malaysians. Malaysians must be prepared to experience rain, examination, holidays and weddings within these two months.

Malaysians must be prepared to face wet weather because the North East Monsoon would bash Peninsular Malaysia from November 2008 till March 2009. The weather would be unpredictable. On a lucky day, Malysians would be able to socialise normally but most of the days within these months Malayisans will be showered with thunderstorms and torrential rains.

The month of November would always instill fear and terror in the hearts of 17-year-old Malaysians because these two months are the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia and Siji Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia Examinations. Parents and their children are damned worried and traumatised by these examinations. The former and the latter know that their future lies in the outcome of these examinations.

To children and parents who do have children who are not taking SPM/STPM, November will alaway be awaited for. This is the time the children and parents can sped thier times languishing on the beautiful beaches of Peringi, in Penang, Perdana Beach in Langkawi. Meanwhile to the affordable families, November would be spent going downunder, Australia or New Zealand.

November and December would also be the best times for lovebirds to tie their nots. Everywhere you go would be able to see colourful wedding tents being erected to celebrate weddings.

Well November and December will come and go and we must be able to plan our life for the coming months because the world would be facing economical hardships comes January 2008.

Enjoy yourself in liue of the coming of January 2009.

Dr Bano

Oh Bump Ma

2008-11-13T17:04:00.000-08:00

Friday 14 the November 2008

It's been nearly two weeks that Barack Obama has legally won the post of the 44th Presidents of the United States of America and Barack can brag to being able to chater a new Historical Fact that USA took 232 years to elect a non Anglo-Saxon to be their master.

Should Obama's father is an Anglo-Saxon and his mother is non-Anglo-Saxon breed, he would not have been labelled as a black, but a true American. That's how Americans consider an American, a species from Anglo-Saxon stock, other than that you will be labelled as Afro-American, Japanese-American, Red Indian American etc.

The notion of this blog is to share my reasons and possibilities how a Blcck American was elected democratically as the 44 th President of USA.
1. Hate for Bush
Americans cannot accept beaucratic execuses from the White House for staging two stupid wars - against Afghanistan and Iraq. More than 3000 parents have lost thier children in both wars. Inaddition, White House, under Bush, of couse has faile in overcomning the falls of Economic Giants such as Lehman Brothers and others.
2. Presidential Changeover after 2 terms.
The Americans usually do not elect a President from the ruling part after serving two terms. Bill Clinton, serverd two full terms as President. So when Al Gore tried to become Clinton's successor, the Americans denied this. This year it happened again. McCain tried his political best to be Bush's successor after the former had served for two terms, the American threw McCain out of the White House.
3. Hillary is the wrong choice.
Hillary, the former 1st Lady, Clinton's wife, should not have stood as A PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER, BECAUSE AMERICANS CONSIDERED HILLARY IS THE CLONE OF CLINTON who have his shortcoming during his 8-year-tenure as the president. Obama would have tougher times to with the Democratic Nominations had his opponent is a male Anglo-Saxon
4. Disorientated Anglo-Saxon Americans
When Bush was heavily critised for his shortcomings, the Anglo-Saxon Americans were not serious of choosing a Republican or Democracts to be his replacement. Tradition has it that whoever wants to the next president would be Anglo Saxton. It's never their wildest dreams that the 44th US President is a Afro Americans. Both parties areto be blamed for making this to happen.

Congratulations Oh Bump Ah for creating an American History. Can a non-Malay be the Prime Mister of our country? The chance is there but it is very remote because Malaysia is practisting Constituitional Democracy, in line with the Westminister Laws in UK. Can a non-Malay party garner the most number of seat in parliament? Only the leader of the party with the most number of seats in the House may be appointed as he PM by the again. Until the law is repealed, the non-Malay keep on dreaming.

The New Moon and the New Plight

2008-10-31T16:25:00.000-07:00

1 November 2008 0725 hours

Today is the maiden day for the new month of November 2008 of the Gregorian Year which is equivalent to the first day of Zulhijjah of the Islamic Calendar 1429.

It's quite rare both calendars share the same platform. In this month of Zulhijjah, about two million Muslims all over the world would make their journeys - on foot, horses, bicyles, motorcycles, cars, lorries, buses, boats, ferries and aeroplanes, to Mekah in order to perform their holy matrimony, i.e. to make their haj which is the fifth Islamic Commandment.

Being a Muslim means one has to carry out the five basic tenets of Islam, i.e.:
1. To pledge that There is no God except Allah
2. To perform Five obligatory prayers daily
3. To fast in the Month of Ramadan
4. To give alms to the poor and the needies
5. To make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Mekah, (To those who are financially and physically healthy in the month of Zulkaedah
The first batch of about 350 Malaysian Muslims left for Mekah yesterday, Thursday, 3th October 2008. The pilgrims were being sent off by the HRH the King of Malaysia at Kelana Jaya. They will be away for about 40 day, during which they have to perform some religious rituals in Mekah, Arafat and Medina. The act of performing Haj needs physical and spiritual commitments and dedication.
To all pilgrims we pray for their safety and submissioon to Allah.

Whilst the Muslims are heading for Mekah, the Christians will be experiencing the cold temperatures of winter; the Hindus have just celebrated their Deepavali; the Buddists have no religious activties this month.
Whatever your belief is, we are all the children of one God, Allah.

Dr Bano

Good Morning Malaysians

2008-10-31T12:32:00.000-07:00

1 November 2008 0340 hrs

Good Morning All.
In the new hours of this Saturday morning, I am still awake. My wife is away in Saujana Impian, Kajang, to be with our lovable and intelligent grand kiddos. TV is currently showing the normal police story, Gerak Khas.
I
In one and a half hour's time, it would be the time for Fajr prayer where I plan to perform it at Al Sabirin Chapel. Then I am planning to to go golfing at Tanjung Emas Golf Club and I'd be home at around 11. By noon I'd expect to attend a wedding reception at the Muar Fire Brigade Quarters.

Once the noon is over, I'd be expecting to hug and kiss my grand kiddos who would be coming to visit me this evening.

Well it's time to bid adios for now.
Dr Banoo
0415 hours

The Day the Sky Cries

2008-10-30T20:06:00.000-07:00

Friday 31 October 2008

We, Rahim and I, were just going to sip our favourite driks, Teh O, in Peringgit, when the sky turned murky. While sipping our favourite beverage, we chatted on many topics when suddenly the gloomy sky started to sprinked the planet earth with carbon dioxide.

Sprinkles of water later turned to rain. We moved our seating to a drier place. Rahim had Mee Kari and I had Nasi Goreng Kampong. Rahim revealed his new found interest of raring crab. He was dead serious in this new commercial paradigm. Surprising, an IT trained professional for decades, had shown keen zest in biology. He emphasised that the new found industry would generane hansome income in future, and his potential customers would be his colleagues in the university he is teaching.

Albeit, polio striken, Rahim is a dedicated, ambitious, and a businessman. He dedicates his life to God, family, career and the society. He is a good philantropist though. On numerous occasions he had donated, in the form of money and service, to his siblings, as well as, the members of the Handicapped.

I am proud to be a part of his socialites. We will always be driving together to our brunch grottos. The whole town would know the normal and the handicapped partnership. This partnership will share the common platform on education, politics and education.

Hopefully this partnership would last.
Dr Bano

Last Days of Ramadan

2008-09-26T15:40:00.000-07:00

Saturday: 27 Ramadan 1429/27 Sept 2008
On a rare occasion both the Gregorian and Hijah Calendars are on the same footing. I could not recall of any sharing of the same date among the two in the last few decades. I might be wrong though.

Yesterday, Friday was the last day of lectures for UiTM students for this semester before they headed home to be with the loved ones. Malaysian students, primary and secondary schools, polytechnics, community colleges, private and public universities, are given a speacial Aidil Fitri Holidays from 27 Sept to 4th October.

Fortunately I had only one two-hour lecture with the BBAM 1A students and I didn't dread to see empty lecture rooms because quite a big number of students have already bolted from campus due to trasportation schedules. Three of my students, including Md Kahiri, the Class Representative, stayed away from the lecture. The remaining 25 faces in the room looked gloomy and dejected for having to hear to my lecture.

The slot was well spent to encourage and anticipate questions from the floor. Intially the students were slow in forwarding their questions. In order to motivate them to ask any question, I told them that I would be giving them some marks as their students' participations grade. Gradually I received some mind boggling questions from Fatiyyah, Fathur, to name a few.

Malay students, at all educational levels, primary to university, are non-paticipative in class. They are either unwilling or hesistant in voicing their problems openly. On numerous occasions I have already reminded them that There is nothing wrong with not knowing, but it is very wrong for not asking. My noble attempts in all these years of teaching in UiTM came to no avail. Malays students must undergo a shift in their learning paradigms in order to achieve academic excellence. If the students are willing to share their problems, then the teachers would be able to comprehend their inabilities to absorb whatever is being taught. Besides whenever a student is daring to ask question in public, in class to be specific, he or she has let known his handicap to the society. This effort will trigger a brainstorming session to derive with an answer or decision. He or she would become more confident, in his daily life. Malays, like the Third World Country Students, are timid and are non-participative in class. This maybe one of the reasons that Malays are weak in English and other foreign languages beacause they would like to stay numb during language lessons. So buckle up in order to achieve higher academic performances by asking many questions during lectures.

By now, students and parents are busily preparing for the Aidilfitri. Some Muslims have the wrong concept about religious and cultural diversities. They have the wrong priority about Puasa. Instead some prioritise Aidil Fitri rathan than Fasting. This perspective must be put in the right order from now. Muslims must put Fasting ahead of Aidil Fitri. Allah has promised to reward all good deeds in the of Ramadan with handsome bonuses. We must grab this opportunity once a year. In encouraging His servants to achieve maximumum rewards, He has imprisoned all the negatives forces, Satans and devils. Muslims will not be cowed or influenced or distracted in performing their obligatory and supplementary rituals by the opposing forces.

We have 4 days more to grab this offer, so spend the remaining days of Ramadan by doing all chores totally for Allah. Besides studying and doing house chores, the remaining time should be filled with reading the Quran or reciting the wirids and doas. The night should be spent by performing the Trawih, Tahajjud, Taubat and Hajat prayers. Insy'Allah we will get the blessing from Him.

Insy'Allah, Aidil Fitri would be celebrated on Wednesday, Oct. 1. Wake up prior to the Azan of Subuh and perform your Subuh prayer together with the other Jemaahs in suraus and mosques. Join in the Takbir Hari Raya before having your heartious breakfast, which has eluded us for one month, with our beloved ones. Finally, don't you ever fail to perform the Aidil Fitri prayer in the suraus or mosques because if we fail to do so, is jus like having conquered the enemy but we lost the war.

To all my students, Aina (BACC 1A), Kelana (BBAM 1B). Azizah (BBIB3B), Megat (BBAF5D), Jamilah (BBAF5E), and Ben (BAS5A, just to name a few, and the rest of my July - October 2008 students and to all Muslims all over the world I wish Happy Aidil Fitri and please accept my humble apologies.

Assoc. Profesor Hj Sa'aban Hj Salim
0123630698

Happy Days are Here Again

2008-09-23T20:47:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

It has been 24 days that Muslims have fasted in this holy month of Ramadan. Today is the last Wednesday that Muslims will fast as the next upcoming Wednesday, Muslims would be celebrating their joyous day, Aidilfitri.

Let us walk through the remainings days with pride and dignity. Do not let the days pass without committing wholelly to Allah. Fasting does not only mean to abstain and deprive our bowels from food and beverages, it should also to deprive the eyes from seeing and watching things that are forbidden by Allah; it is also to deprive the ears from listening the audios that would not enhance your belief and fate to Allah; it is to deprive your mouths from uttering words that does not recite the words of Allah; it is also to deprive the brain from planning and thinking of doing somethings that Allah forbids; it is also to forbid other parts of human body from doing something that derail their conviction and submission to Allah.

The remaining days should be treasured wholeheartedly because we could never know that we will ever be in this world in the next Ramadan. Go through the days with more serious and sincere submission to Allah. We must perform our obligatory prayers on time; read our Quran; recite all the doa; read some hadis; have an early breaking of the fast; perform the Tarawikh prayer; go to bed early so as to enable us to wakke up early and perform or Tahajjud and Hajjat Paryers. Then have a late supper, 10 minutrs befor Fajr prayer, and head to the mosque or surau to join the morning prayer.

Allah has always been and will always been benevolent and kind by offering a solitary moment, called Lailatul Qadr, in one of the last 10 nights of the month of Ramadan. We have 5 nights to grab this golden and spiritual opptunity. Hence you ever waste the nighty hours without doing something to submit to Allah. The reward to be offered to His subservient servant would be something that will be equivalent to 1000 months or 33 years and 4 months. Don't let these last days gone by without trying to do something to redeive the blessings of Allah.

The schools, colleges, politechnics and universties would be giving special Hari Raya Breqk from September 27 to Octoeber 5, 2008. Muslim students would be allowed to share their joy with thier loved ones for a week and they will business will be back as usual on Monday October.

A word of advice, Hari Raya comes every year, Final Examination will only come when you maintain your CGPA. Enjoy when you can, Study when you must.

Please plan your trip home. If you fail to plan your trip, there would never be anymore trip home.

Happy Hari Raya. Maaf ahir Bathin.

Dr Bano

Ramadan AlMubarak

2008-09-20T15:55:00.000-07:00

Sunday September 21, 2008
Selamat Berpuasa and get ready to celebrate Selamat Hari Raya.

Well, what have you aquired or experienced after abstaining form food and beverages in duration of you fast? Allah has promised to His servants that thosewho fast will experience two golden moments in their quest to submit to Him i.e. the moment you want to end your fast and the moment of meeting Him in the YaumilAkirah.

As His humbleand suservient servants, we are to change our lifestyle and our submission to Him. Firstly, as promised, Ramadan is the Holy Month whereby all the negative forces, the satans, are being locked away theroughout the month from carrying out their terms of references - to distract humans from obeying the commands of their Creator.

Fasting, not only be deprived of food and beverages, means to abstain from doing the act ofmunkar. Munkar can derive from you eyes, ears, mind and body. Hence, Muslims are offered tremendous rewards for guarding their acts of munkar. The month of Ramadan ensures Muslims that good deeds will be rewarded from 70 to 700 times.

Hadis, has it said that by having a late sahur, supper, Muslims will be accorded with rewards from Allah. Upon waking up, he would then perform his Tahhujud prsyer; had is last supper and headed to mosques or suraus to perform his ubuh prayer. Having answered Allah's call to perform Subuh prayer, he would then read a few verses of the Holy Quran.

The day begins with his normal jobs in whatever that he is involved in. Then during Lunch Break he would be congregating with the other Muslims in the performing of Zuhr prayer in a mosque or surau. While waiting for the afternoon session to start, he is advised to read the Quran and Hadis. By 5 his day would be over and he heads ome to be with his family. On reachng home he must perform his obligatory Asr prayer, either alone or with his family.

The Asr prayer is the mid-prayer of the day i.e. the middle prayer between Subuh and Zuhur and between Maghrib and Isy' prayers.his is the testing time during the fasting. It is only about 2 hours before the beaking of the fast but it will be the most challening minutes of the 12 hours fast. You would feel the the second-arm of your watch or clock, moves slowly than the normal movement. Even second of the 24 hour system is meaningful. Some people would use this challeging time to help his wife prepare food for the breakfast, while some would be reading the verses of he Quran and some would be languishing in front of TV.

Usually the last 300 seconds to the breakfast time would be really the most difficult test of your spiritual endurance. Hold your desire because as Prophet Muhmmad (pbuh) once stated that The most difficult thing to do is to fight against desire. Humans differ from the other creation of Allah is their ability to control and master thier emotional and spiritual quotients. Both quotients would be uncontrollable or unmanagable without the intelligent quoutient. islam is a religion the evolved around Intelligent Quotient, Spritual Quotient and the Application of both.

Finally, the breakfast time is here. Azan would signal the end of one's fast. This signals he success of one's spiritual effort to gain Allah's blessing. Children and adults too would instanly gargle and swallow whatever food and beverages on the dinner table. No ne woud be able to describe the thrill and excitement of tasting the first drop of liquid after 12 hours of thirst and hunger.

Hold and behold. Islam has it made that once Azan Maghrib is filling the air, we must pronounced our thanks to Allah for having successfully performed our fast. Then before sipping our first drop of liquid through our mouth, we must offer ourdoa to Allah for providing the food for our consumption. Quench your thist and tasted the delicaries that Allah has provided for you and at the same time we must also bear in mind that Muslims all over the world are not so lucky to have lavish food o quench their thirst and to fulfill their hunger.

That's the rationale of having to fast is to understand the difficulties and hardships of other fellow humans who are starving to live in this planet earth. As Muslims we are to pay Zakat and Fitrah so that the fund could be used to help the sufferings of others.

Does our fasting process end hee? No. Don't eat as if that is the last meal of your life. Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once said Stop eating before your are satiated because someone with full stomach would be hesistant or worse would be unable to perform his obligatory solat. That would be the worse thing to happen to someone who has managed to perform his fast but fail to perform his utmost obligation, to pray. of course Maghrib prayer. Fortunately most Muslims who have fasted during the day would not fail to perform his oher Maghrib prayers.

Is that the end of our routine in he month of Ramadan? Not yet, though. Take a break after Mahrib prayer beafor preparing yoself to attend Isya' and Tarawikh prayer at home or at the surau. A day in Ramadan would only end once you have performed your Witr prayer which is usually performed at around 10 pm.

Time to sleep and ready to roll he same routine throughout Ramadan.

Selamat Meneruskan Puasa and Selamat Hari Raya Ailfitri.

Maaf ahir Bathin.

Dr Bano

D-Day for Politicians

2008-03-06T18:42:00.000-08:00

Friday March 7, 2208

Less than 24 hours, Malysians will go to the polls to elect a new government of the day. To developed countries like, US, UK, France, Japan, Italy, just to name a few, election to them is just a formality whereby the government of the day will be thrown out from power at the most for a period of 8 years.

To a lesser developed countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea the governments are being ruled by Prime Ministers who sometimes go beyond 20 yerars, while the least developed countries in Asia, Africa and South America the Prime Ministers and Presidents were actually dictators of the world.

The unique issue of the Malaysian government is that the country is being ruled by a bunch of politicians who represent a coalition of more than 10 political parties whose ideologies are knotted into one theme the National Front. Hence, these politicians, on elected would not only serve his party, but also his constituents, as well as the electors of other parties.

Another uniqueness of Malaysian politics an the unfair treatment among the winners of this election is the allocation for development of RM 400,000 are only allocated to the Ruling Party winners. The MPs from the opposition are unable to develop the infrastructure of his constituency due to the deprieval of the fund. The government, National Front, must change this unfair treatment to the people because they are the obedient tax-payers who deserve developments evethough they elect the opposition parlimentarianns.

Use your rights in accordance to the law of the land and elect the best candidates who represent political parties than can bring freedom, happiness and tranquality to this beautiful country.

Happy Voting. Kamousta.

Election Fever is Here Again

2008-02-22T20:43:00.000-08:00

Saturday, February 23rd, 2008

It's been some days and hours that I have lost my touch in writing for D Banos due to family, work and society commitments and obligations.

As an academic staff, we were allowed to go on leave from February 3rd to 9th, in junction with the Chinese New Year Holidays. My wife and I were ready to spend 4 days and 3 nights in Medan from Feb. 7th to Feb. 11th. Our tickets were orcestraed through UTAS Travel Kuala Lumpur.

On Tuesday, Feb. 5th, we were shopping at Giant Muar hen my wife received a call from Shaik, our second son, relaying his health condition that he felt to experience a mild stroke while driving home from his golf session. I saw my wife was in ears and asked or my response. Oh Allah! What sould we do? My instinct directed me to order him to park immediately while waiating for hisbrother's presence.

We called and told Adik to send his sibling to Damansara Medical Centre. Adik, with Shafik's PA, did as was told. Hurriedly we headed home and started calling everyone in Kuala Lumpur and nationwide. We were unable to head to KL because TND, who were to fix our 3 phase connection to our house, would only be coming at around 4 pm.

UTAS Travel was contactd to cancel our plan and we could only head o KL at around 5.30 pm. Meanwhile my wife had cried her soul. Finally, we mananged to see our beloved Shafik, at around 8.00 pm at MC. Alhamdullilah, Shafik was physically stable. At around 100pm Shafik was awake and from his statement we concluded that he had experience a terrible stress due to family and business commitments. We lft DMC at around 1230 pm and spent the night at Saujana Impian.

At 1030 am, Wednesday morning we headed back to Damansara to be with our son. The good news came with the doctor's positive report that Shafik cleared of Heat Case, Cholestrol and mild stroke. Everyone, Pak Long, Uncle, Pak Li, Pak Aziz, Pak Moed, with the excepton of Pak Ngah, were present to hear the good news. We stayed around till 830 pm before heading for Kajang.

Thursday, Feb. 7th, Kong Hee Fatt Choy, my wife and kiddos headed toDamansara, while I headed for Muar at around 1030 am. he traffic was bad from Kajang to Seremban. I managed to be safe and sound at the comfort of home at around 230 pm.

Friday and Satuday were spent on marking students' assignments. At around 430 pm, Saturday, my wife called and wanted me to be Shafik's house immedately. After my Maghrib prayer,at around 830 pm, Jais, my close friend, and I, headed for Damansara and we reached Damasaradamai around 1145 pm.

Many people were there to settle Shafik' marita status. Besides my wife and I, Moed, Mak Nah, Pak Aziz, Hj Mahzan, Noi, Anja, Linda, Julianaa, Atuk Linda, Jais, Adik, and Emi wer e there. After much deliberataion we ended our discussion with Shafik and Linda were irreconcilable at around 100 am Sunday morning. The rest was history.

In the time of bad taste I mananged to watch Nigeria to beat Ivory Coast. Jais and I left Damanasara for Muar at around 500am Sunday morning, Feb, 10th. After breakfast at Pak Hussin I reched home.

Well, Leoprdas never change their spots.

Xong Hee Fatt Choy

2008-02-08T07:14:00.000-08:00

Friday February 8th, 2008

Chinese New Year,Xong Hee Fatt Choy, is here again. This celebration is associated with traditional, rather than religious, occasion. 2008 is called as the Year of the Rat. Rat, or sometimes called rodent, envisages negative attributes. Rats brought diseases and cause losses to human economy. Chinese believe that those born in the year of the rat are involve in unstable economy.

Chinese New Year 2008 was on Wednesday, February 7th. On Monday, February 4th, my wife and I planned to make a trip to Medan, Indonesia through UTAS ravel Agency. While we were shopping at Giant Muar, at noon on Tuesday, Shafik, called my wife that he had mild stroke while on his way home afer a game of golf. My wife was dillusioned and made frantic calls to our third child, Mohammad Asshad to attend o his brother's medical problem. Immediately we cancelled our flight and left for Kuala Lumpur after Asar prayer.

We safely reached Damansara Medical Centre at about 2000 hrs. Alhamdulillah!Our beloved son was physically stable. We stayed around until 2230 before we headed for Kajang. It was already 0030 hrs, Wednesday, February 5th. I performed my Maghrib and Isya' prayer before ending my day at around 0130 Wednesday Morning.

At about 1030 Wednesday Morning, we headed to Damansara to be at my son's bedsite. We were informed by the medical staff that Shafik was cleared of heart case and he needed fuher investigation till Saturday. The joy of receiving the news made me to call for a treat. All my in-laws were treated for free food at the cafetaria. We left Damansara for ajang at around 2230 hrs. I managed to perform my obligatory prayers before I fell asleep at around 2300 hrs.

On Thursday, Chinese New Year Day, I performed my Subuh Prayer at 0630 hrs and read my Yassin. We had our breakfast at around 0830 hs with Nasi Lema, Mee and Tea. My wife, daughter Juliana and her husband, Udin, and our kiddos left for Damansara at around 1100 and I headed for Muar alone at the same time.

The journey from Kajang to Seremban was really testing my patience. I could hardly accelerate up to 40 km per hour. The traffic flow was clogged. After reaching What a journey!

Well that's all for now. Kamusta

Semester Break is ere Again

2008-02-03T02:29:00.000-08:00

Sunday, February 3rd, 2007

Tomorrow, Monday 4th to Sunday 10th February, 2008, MARA University of Technology students would be enjoying heir short break. It's the time for the students to back with their loved ones after a separation of about 4 weeks. Students must be wise to manage the leisure times by playing around with their younger siblings, or by visiing old friends and relatives and at the same time not to forget their books and assignments.

As a lecturer like me, it's time for me to obtain fresh materials to be imparted to my students after the break. It's also the best time for me to exchange ideas, to have breakfast and lunch and dinner outings ad lastly to visit our beloved grandchildren in Kuala Lumpur. Perhaps we may make a 4-day trip either to Medan or Jakarta.

The break is also the best time for both of us to spend quality time together. This is m 39th year of my service with the government. On any working day we would have about 1 to 2 hours of quality time. Usually I would leave home for more than 8 hours and I would be hme at arund 1700 hrs. On reaching home, I would perform my Asr prayer, had my tea and read my newspaper and took my bath. At 75 hs I would be heading to the surau from my Maghrib prayer and I would be home at around 1945. My wifewould be praying in her room for her Maghrib and Isyak rayers. Upon reaching home I would read Yassin then I headed to the surau for Isya' prayer till 2105 hrs.

At aound 1920 we dined together and went separate ways. I would be engrossed with my academic chores, while my wife would be engrossed wih her Quran reading or she wuld be watching her favourite tv programmes. Sometimes I would only in bed at around 1000 hrs. At 0530 I would clean myself and prepared for the Subuh prayer either at home or at the surau. After Subuh I was ready to leave for lectures either at 0645 hrs or )745 hrs at the latest.

The daily routine would go on until Friday where I would be home at around 1430 hrs, immediately after Friday pray. My wife and I would lunch together and we would be able to chat anything at the lunch table. Usually I would take a short siesta for 1 hour and then I would perform my Asr prayer and soon afte that the rountine spin again.

On Saturdays and Sunday mornings, ether I played golf till 1130 hrs or I would be having breakfast with my wife in town. Sometimes Saturdays and Sundays were spent attending wedding receptions r meeting fiends.

Since the break will break the daly routine, we would be planning to visit our beloved kiddos or make a trip overseas.

Well that's life to be managed wisely and meaninfully.

Happy Holidays to Shaipul and Kamarul (BTSL, Fa'iq (BBIB), Hamsyah, Saveas, Hafis, Iqbal, Hakim and many others whose names are yet to be recorded in my RAM.

Birthday Blues

2008-01-25T17:12:00.000-08:00

Saturday, January 26 th, 2008
According to Gregorian Calendar, at midnight 0000 hrs I have managed to to attain my 60 th Birthday. At exactly midnight I offered prayer to Allah swt for extending my life to 60 years.

Looking back down my memory lanes from the days I was born to Hj Salim Hj Sirat and Hjh Kamsiah Hj Salleh, 60 years ago, I always Allah swt for making me a man, a father, a husband, an uncle, cousin, brother, lecturer and a humble servant to Allah. According to my late mother, I was bor on a Monday, coincentally the day when our Beloved Prophet Muhammad was born. My early life started with sickness and at one stage I was prononced dead. Thanks to Allah swt for giving me a second chance to be in this temporary world.

My first 7 years of my life was a beautiful one. As Sayedina Omar said that children at this age must be treated as toys. In factI went outside the toy era by attending Sekolah Umum Bukit Soga, Batu Pahat at an early age of 5. My classmates were 7-year-old children and that experience of being with older boys later has transormed me to be a matured person.At Standard 4, 9 yers old, I sat the Entrance Examination for the Malay Students to enter a special programme for top Malay Students, Special Malay Class. I was succeesful and I had to repeat standard 4 in Lim Poon Primary Boys' Schhol to continue my Standard 4 - 6. When I was in Lim Poon Primary Boys' School I became a teacher's Pet especially Miss Teo and at one stage I was adopted by my headmaster, En Zainal Abidin.

I left LPBS to join High School, Batu Pahat in 1960, at a tender age of 11. Here again I was a teacher pet to Indian Lady Teachers. When I was in my early teen I started to be active in social services by joining Boys ScoutGroup. My involvement in this association has led me to be what I am today. Baden Powell, the founder of Bys Scout had made a man out of me. He once said,"Once a Scout is Always a Scout." Scouting acivities have me friendship, loyalty, honesty, obedience, resilience, accountable, responsible,commited and decidication. My activess in scounting had made a Royal Scout,bestowed by HRH Sultan Ismail when I was barely 16 years old.

This early experience had later repeated itself when I was awarded the Melaka State Award, Bintang Kepujian Tertinggi, by the Governor of Melaka.
In 1963 I sat and passed my Lower Certificate of Education and I attended the Science Steam. Unfortunately I was undecided whether or not to pursue my studies in Arts or Science stream. Finally I decided I joined Form 5 Arts. Some of my former Form Fourers becane doctors or scientists while I became a college train teacher from Language Institute, Kuala Lumpur in 1968.

My first posting as a teacher was Sekolah Menengah Air Baloi, Pontian from 1968 to 1973 teaching English, Mahematics and Physical Education. I ended my bachelorhood by marrying Azizah Ab Rahman, a Muarian, on December 24 th, 1970. Our marriage is blessed with three wonderful children, Julianaa, a Business Graduate, Dato'Shafik Rizaal, a corporate figure, and Mohammmad Asshad, computer scientist working in his brother's firm.

In 1974 I applied for a transfer to Muar and I was posted to Sekolah Menengah Pagoh from 1975 to 1979 teaching English and Geography. Later in 1980 I was transferred to Sekolah Menengah Jalan Junid Muar. Besides teaching in these schools was actively involved in Boys' Scout Association, as Scoutmaster and as I was an avid footballer, I held the post of Secondary School Football Secretary for many years. Apart from that I was the English Key Personnel for the Muar District for many years too.

In 1979 I was selected to pursue my studies for the Diploma in Ensglish as a Second Language in Universiy Malaya. Then in 1982 I was managed to get a scholarship, under the Young Lecturer Scheme, ITM, now currently known as UiTM, to pursue mys BA and MA in Northen Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA. Upon my completion of my studies, I was posted to ITM Shah Alam on 19 August 1985. After serving Shah Alam for one semester, I was posted to ITM Melaka on December 1 st, 1985. During my service in Melaka, I held the post of Language Coordinator, English Proficiency Course Coordnator and the Deputy Director of Students' Affairs until I officially retired on January 26 th, 2004. I duly served the Malaysian Government for 35 years.

Now I am a contract lecturer from 2004 till 2010. My family is now made up of 3 children, 2 in-laws and 5 grandchildren. On my 60th birthday I pray to Allah swt to offer me with Iman, Takwa, Good Health, Healthy Children and Grandchildren and be a Good Muslim.

Till my next birthday I will sin off now.

The Beginning of a New Era

2008-01-20T15:59:00.000-08:00

Monday January 21, 2008

It has been quite some time I didn't write in my blog due to work committment and I had had not nothing much to share with fellow bloggers.

Yesterday, Sunday, January 20th, 2008, YAB Prime Minister announced that Thaipusam would be declared a Holiday to KLites and Dato' Seri Samy Valu has appealed to other states, particularly Melaka and Kedah, to follow suit. Sincerely I hope Thaipusam should be declared a national holiday rather than sates holiday.

This is the 4th week of this semester, Dec. 07 - May 08, and the ball has started rolling at the feet of the students. At 0830 hrs, the BBAIB 3B students would be presenting their first tasks of BEL 492, the Introductory section, which carries 20% of the whole course.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 22, 2008, UiTM Melaka would be having its Quality Day and Maal Hijrah Celebration in Lendu. All lectures for tomorow would be postponed so as to enable lecturers and staff to attend the function. Unfortunately I had to replace 6-hour lecture some time this semester.

This week, to be exact Saturday, January 26 th, 2008, I would be celebrating my 60 th Birthday. Thanks Allah swt for giving me the Iman, Takwa, Good Family, Excellent 3 Children and 5 Grandchildren, Good Health, Beautiful Friends and Good Profession during the last 60 years. I beg and succumb to Allah swt to prolong this beautiful life for some time to go. How Long. Waullahuaklam.

Bye for now.

Two be or not To Be

2008-01-14T01:27:00.000-08:00

Mon January 14, 2008

The new semester has already reached for he third week today, Monday. the students' name lists, the exact numberof students and the right group are still in disarray.

Supposedly these things should have been finalised by January 10, with the icoming of the second-intake students. Unfortunately it did not materialised. To add salt to injuey, certain groups were disbanded due to lack of students.

What is really happening to the new members of this instituition? Are we lacking the right number of students to pursue their basic degree? Or are we lacking in he number of students who have form and substance.
Some students lack the form of aspiring to be the intellectuals of the future. Quite a number of the students are still unprepared to be matured students by not dressing well, coming late to class and or staying away from lectures. These students need to change their attitudes now.

Hopefully, the students would change for the better, tomorrow, Tuesday, January 15 th. Insya'Allal.

The Day of the Rekoning

2008-01-11T15:05:00.000-08:00

Saturday January 12, 2008

Well, it's Saturday, the day that government workers have been waiting for. For what? Recreation, travelling, wedding reception, social gathering and many many more.

Last night I was invited to atend YB Datuk Dr Harris's daughter's Akad Nikah. Her husband is from Johor Bahru. It was the first Akad Nikah since my own daughter's wedding in 2002. The occasion was colourful, awesome and simple. It was over by 2300 hrs.

Ismail, a close buddy from Aolr Star, called to remind me about our colleague's daughter's wedding in Alor Star, Mohammad Abdullah, today, Jan. 12,2008. I told him i wouldn't be going because I had to attend Haris's Wedding Reception which happen to be today too.

I wouldn' be playing golf this morning because I would be busy peparing for my lectures, shopping at Giant for my beloved kiddos' toys, breakfast with my wife, and I would be attending two wedding functions.

The day sated with my Subuh prayer and Yassin reading and then blogging. Unfortunately I have not much to share with you today.

Kamusta.

New Bottle New Product

2008-01-10T18:21:00.000-08:00

Friday December 11th, 2008
The Gregorian Year was celebrated on Tuesday, January 1st, 2008, while the Islamic (Hijjrah) Year was on Thursday, January 10, 2008.

New Year will always be coming annually and do we have to change our personality, character, attitudes and ethics every year too? To some who have no basic pricipals in life will keep on searching for new hopes and aspirations but to the majority who have incalcated the right paths would keepn on trying to achieve their goals.

Happy New Year and Happy Maal Hijrah.

Old Wine in a New Bottle

2008-01-07T01:32:00.000-08:00

Monday, January 7, 2008
The Dec. 07 - May 08 started on Monday Dec. 31st followed by the New Year Day on Tuesday.

On the first day of the semester, I was in campus by 0730hrs eager and motivated to embark on my pedagogical assignment. At 0735 hrs I took my breakfast at the MARA Corner alone. By 0820 I was already in DMK 3 to launch my teaching. Unfortunately nobody was around. I fixed the OHP, which I carried from the 15th floor.While waiting for the audience to come in, I scroughed through the notes of BEL 492. It was 0830 hrs when the lecture should have started. Nobody showed up.

Time ticked by. Waiting is not my game. I waited and waited until 0930 hrs when I decided to call of the class carrying the OHP to the next class which should start at 1030 hrs, BEL 422. As usual I was ready for my next lecture. There I fixed the OHP again in Z 13 6. Then the same experience of having an empty class occurred. So I called off the class at 1100 hrs.

Then I started to ponder about the attitudes of the previous and the current students towards the old habits of abstaining from lectures when a holiday is coming. I have been lecturing for the past 23 years in ITM, now UiTM. UiTM is considered a New Bottle and the Students are labelled as the the New Wine, as the Engllish saying goes. With a new terminology I expect the students would have new attitudes. Unforunately, only he bottle is new. The new students still possess the old habits of abstaining from lectures whenever there will be a holiday next.

The attitudes of the Bumi students must change for the better. It's the Bumis themselves who can change, not others. My expectations hat the new students would inculcate new attitudes were high. As mentioned earlier, t's a new bottle with old wine.

Hopefully as the semester moves on, the wine will change and it will take some time because Old Habits Die Hard.

2008

2007-12-31T10:31:00.000-08:00

Tuesday January, 1st, 2008

It has been two hours and 33 minutes that 2007 has left us. Millions who share the same time zone celebrated the birth of a new lunar year in various wayss, while the rest of the world would be celebrating new year as the clock ticks at mid-nightlater.

As the clock struck at 0000 hrs, January 1st, 2008 few thousand Malaysians, including, the Prime Minister, shouted, clapped and overjoyed at Dataran Merdeka n Kuala Lumpur. Some Malaysians gathered in Johor Bahru, Penang, etc to welcome the new day.

Prior to the great moment of tme, my Azizah, Hazli and his wife, Aida and I were chitchatting from 2200 hrs till 2330 hrs. We had tea and fruits from Giant. At the exact moment I was watching TV3's New Year Celebration Countdown.

Walking back to memory lane, I celebrated my 59th Birthay on Jan. 26. My Beloved kiddos were 4 in February. We went to perform Umrah in May. My contract was renewed on Oct. 1 still Sept, 30 th, 2010. Not much happening this year except for a new happy moments andxpectations this year.

My expectations? Off course I would pray to Allah swt to give me good health and mind, increase my iman and takwa and please fulfill my children's wishes and dream to reality.

Happy New Year

2007 Days Before They End

2007-12-27T16:33:00.000-08:00

Friday December 28, 2007
As time ticks by, the days for 2007 will be over in a 4 days time. Hence we have already spent 365 days of 2007.

Looking back what have we achieved or failed to achieve in 2007? Let us walk backwards to our memory lane. January is the month that I would be looking forward to because my birthday falls on every 26th January. This time it was on Friday too. Do you want to know what was my wish for my birthday? Well, as usual, I would ask Allah swt to bestow me with Takwa, Iman, Good Health and Happy Family. Since that day, I managed to get what I wished for. My daily routine submission to Allah swt is greater than ever. In fact i even went further by Umrah in June. I still possess my great sound mind and body to serve my community by lecturing English in UiTM, Melaka.In fact, I was appointed as a contract lecturer from October 1, 2007 to September 30th, 2010. Malaysia Qualification Agency, formerly known as LAN, still needs my services.

Nothing much has happened to Julianaa, my eldest daughter, who is still serving RHB Bank in Kajang; while Shafik Rizaal, my second child, had been conferred Datukship by HRH Sultan of Pahang and Mohammad Asshad,my youngest baby, 25, still works with his brother.

My eldest grandchild and granddaughter, Fathin Aliya, 4, is an intelligent and higly inquisitive girl. Next comes my twin grandsons, Abang and Anand,4, are the best gift Allah swt has given us, both are intelligent, active and healthy. My fourth grandchild and grandaughter, Maryam Khatijah, 3, is brilliant and talkative and my youngest grandchild , Aiman Danial,3, is intelligent, healthy but rather timid. These are the God Gifted humans who would be carrying my good name.

Did I fare well economically? Well, I am a poor money manager. I would always throw rather than keep my money. Fortunately my money is well spent on my family, especially my 3 grandchildren. I bought 2 motorcycles, a Kriss and a Comel, for my daily transport to the mosque.

To recall 2007, I found it to the year that has given me peace, tranquilty and happiness to my family and I.

Thak you Allah swt what what you have given me.

The Day to Remember

2007-12-24T15:21:00.000-08:00

Tuesday Dec.25, 2007

Christmas is here again. Christians are spending thier times with their lost and loved ones. Cookies, goodies, present and liquor freely available for everyone. To my Chritian friends , Merry Christmas.

What does Dec. 25th, mean to me and mt wife? The day is the most important in our married life. We were legally married on Dec. 24th, 1970 and our Wedding Reception was held on Dec. 25th 1970.

To be exact we have been happily married for the last 37 years. Our eldest daughter, 36, married to Ab Latiff, has a set of twins (both boys) and a 3-year -old daughter. Our second child, Dato' Shafik, 33,married to Linda, has a daughter and a son, while our youngest baby, Muhammad Asshad, 25, is still single.

After 37 years we have experienced ups and downs in our careers, marriage and life. Professionally I have achieved something beyond my wildest dream, that is to be accorded associate professorship. On the religious point, we performed our Haj in 2001. Together we have been to England, Paris, Bangkok, Beijing, Jakarta, Bandung and Padang. On the economics front, we own a semi-detached house, 2 cars and 3 motorcycles and a small plot of land. Educationally we managed to send our children to the universities.

I will always pray to Allah swt that the 10 of us be blessed with strong conviction in Islam, be healthy, economically stabilised, committed and dedicated to Allah and the nation.

Merry Christmas. Happy 36th Anniversary

2nd Day of Aidiladha

2007-12-21T06:18:00.000-08:00

Friday December 21, 2007

By the time Muslims in Malaysia celebrated Aidiladha, the former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Muhammad would be 82. May Allah swt bless him with good health.

Well, today is the second day of Aidll Adha. Last night I went to bed with my beloved Abang at around 2300 hrs. I was awakened at around 0430 hrs and washed myself and performed solat Tahajjud and Hajjat. Then I went to Al Nasirin to perform my Subuh prayer, imammed by Samsuddin Husi. We had Tashkirah about Takwa. It was read by Imam 3, Shamsuddin Bajuri.

Upon completion of my morning prayer, I proceeded reading my Yassin. I am on leave today so I have all the time to be spent with my kiddos. We went shopping for cookies on my Kriss. Then we had breakfast together. Most of the time, I did some searching for my old notes while throwing the unwanted things into the trash bag.

At around 1230 hrs I cleaned myself before picking up Yus, TV techncian, for my Friday prayer. The weekly congregation was over by 1400hrs. I invited Yus for lunch at home and while waiting for my wife to serve the goodies, Yus atended my TV. Lunch was served at 1420 hrs. After lunch I sent Yus home.

The rest of the evening was spent with my kiddos.

The Day of Sacrifice

2007-12-19T23:08:00.000-08:00

Thursday Dec. 20th, 2007

Most Muslim countres of the world celebrated Adil Adha, the second greatest day in Islam yesterday, Wednesday, Dec. 19th, 2007 while my own country celebrate the great day today.

Why there is a descrepency between Islamic Nations in clebrating the great occasion? Muslims are required to pactice hisab (astrology) and rukyah (technology) in determining the sighting of the beginning of the Islamic months. The sighting of he new moon varies from one demographic location to another, due to the geographical features, weather and the high techonology apparatus being used by the authorities. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia declared that the new moon of Zulhijjah was sighted on Dec. 10th, while Malaysia which is about 5 hours East of KSA, declared that the sighting of the Zulhijjah was on Dec. 11th. Therefore the day pilgrims performed the most important ritual, i.e to be in Arafah, was on Tuesday, Dec. 18. Non-Pilrims were to celebrate he Aidil Adha on the 10th of Zulhijjah. The majorty of the Muslims, therefore celebrated Aidil Adha on Wednesday, while Muslims in Malaysia celebrate it today.

We are sure whether Muslims in Malaysia are celebrating the right Aidil Adha at the right time. Only Allah swt knows. Whatever it is, we started the celebration as of Maghrib prayer, where Muslims display their pledge of Loyalty to Allah by reciting Takbir after Maghrb and Isya' prayers at homes, suraus and mosques.

For record, for the first time my eldest daughter and her husband did not celebrate Aidil Adha with us because the nursery would be closed for the holidays on Friday Dec.21st. Her three children are with us in Muar. Hence my wife alone, she prepared the cookies and goodies till 0430hrs. My beloved Asshad came home at around 0400 hrs due to tarffic jam.

My Subuh prayer was performed outside the regulatory hours and then I performed the Adil Adha prayer at Al Nasirin at 0830 hrs. The congregation was led by Samsudin Hussin, assisted by Hj Ahmad Siraj.Immediately after the sermon, ketupat was served.

Upon reaching home at around 0930, I took my beloved Abang for a shot ride on the easy rider. Then I exchanged my bike with Kriss and I took Abang and Anan to cruise around he housing estate.

At around 1220 hrs mys second son, Shafik,and his two kids were home. they had ketupat and headed for his in-laws house at aound 1300. My kiddos and I siestaed at round 1330. I was awakened at around 1430 and quickly I performed my Zuhr prayer. Then I had ketupat for lunch.

Happy Aidil Adha.

Qualification Agency

2007-12-18T01:51:00.000-08:00

Tuesday December 18, 2007

The former National Acreditation Board (LAN), will be upgraded to a new name, Malaysian Qualificaton Agency (MQA) as of January 2008.

MAQ will be more organised in scurring the realm of Academic Acreditation to all the Private Instituitions of Higher Learning in Malaysia. The officers will have to work thoroughly hard to analyse, evaluae and decide on the accreditaions of few thousand of cerificates, diplomas, degrees and post degree courses which had been accredited some time ago. Besides assessing the educational programmes run by the PIHL, MQA will also venture into the accredited programmes run by he Public Institutions of Higher Learning.

This would be a great task for a small organisation like LAN to perform this gargantuan task, hence it is agressively looking for fresh and matured graduates of various disciplines in order to cope with the ensuing tasks.

The objective of restructuring LAN is to safeguard the integrity of the paper qualifications churned out by public and private colleges and universities in Malaysia. Thousands of graduates produced by our universities are now applying their knowledge in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, the Far East and Southeast Asia.

Malaysia, to a certain success, has already achieved the status of Educational Hub of the East. Therefore it is the reponsibility of the government, through MAQ, to upgrade the syllabus and curriculum of Malyasian colleges and universities to meet the challenges and demands of the current global issues to attract the local and foreign youth to get the best from a highly acclaimed colleges and universitiesin Malaysia.

As one of the Eavaluation Panelist, I am fully confident that the future products of these instituitions would be able to perform extremely well in whatever profession they are in. In a smaller note, let our universities, be it private or public, play an important contribution for the betterment of mankind.

Good Luck MQA!

Friday is Here Again

2007-12-13T16:07:00.000-08:00

Friday December 14, 2007
Luckily it's not Friday the 13! Gee! We escape the tabooed Friday the 13th. are we not. 13 is considered unlucky to some communities. Some societies consider the number brings bad luck in their busniess, life, fate and you name it.

To me, 13 is just one of the units that makes into millions and trillions. I was born in a family of thirteen siblings, 9 males and 4 females. Unfortunately I have never got to know two of my elder brothers who passed away at an early age before I was born. I have 4 elder brothers and two elder sisters and I have two younger brothers and two younger sisters. I am the 9th in the siblings of 13.

My late eldest brother, Hj Buang Hj Salim, a former army personnel and TNB Securiy Guard, married to Hj Rahmah, passed away a few years ago. Next came, Md Yusof, commonly known as Abang Amin, odd-job worker, married to Kak Som, was he first of my siblings to pass away in a drowning case in Johor Bahru, in the 70's. The third in line of my sibling is my first 72-year-old sister, Hjh Rahmah, a full-time housewife,married to Hj Hadi, is currently staying in Batu Pahat Johor. Next in line is the fourth in the family, Hj Naim, a former Senior Technician in TNB, married to Hj Fatimah, not in good health, is residing in Batu Pahat Johor. The fifth and sixth member of my family passed away while they were young. The next in line was my seventh brother, the late Hj Zainal, a former Sub-Inspector in the Police Force, married to the late Hjh Asiah, passed away about four years ago.

My second elder sister, the eight member of my sibling, 61-year-old Hj Saniah, married to Hj Mazlan, full-time housewife, is residng in Batu Pahat now. The ninth and the only graduate in my family is 59-year-old Associate Professor Hj Saaban. That' me. I am married to Hj Azizah and currently residing in Muar Johor. Next comes my 57-year-old sister, Kamariah,, the 10th in my family, full-time housewife, married to Abad Hashim, is currently residing in FELDA Sungai Mas, Kota Tinggi, Johor. The 11th member is my 55-year-old, Hj Hasnah, a retired Sister in the Sg. Buluh Hospital, married to Yatim, is curently residing in Sungai Buluh, Selangor. My 54-year-old brother, Zainuddin, a retired Sargeant Major in the arm, married to Rubiah, is currently residing in Kluang Johor and finally my last, youngest and the 13th flesh and blood, 51-year-old Zainuddin, a full-time electrical and plumbing contractor, married to Masitah, is currently residing in Batu Pahat, Johor.

Who says number 13 is unlucky. We were born to a couple, Hj Salim Hj Sirat and Hjh Kamsiah Hj Salleh, who have passed away more than a decade ago. My parents, especially my late mother, who was illiterate could only recite the relevant verses in prayer, and my late father, who could only read Jawi and passed away in Mecca, managed to bring us up and could produce an Associate Professor among their children.

We always and will pray for thier well being in the other world.

Hey! What a derailment I have been. Back to Friday, the noble and great day for Muslims. As usual, Subuh was performed at 0600 hrs, and followd by assin reading. I am on leave today and I am going to spend my vacation with my kiddos.

It's 0851 hrs. Salam and Cheerio.

The Day of Hullabaloo

2007-12-12T18:51:00.000-08:00

Thursday December 13, 2007
In 18 days time, 2007 would be history and 2008 would take over then.

But before that happens, I would like to share the happenings that had gone into me. Yesterday, Wednesday, I headed for Melaka at around 0845 hrs and I was in office by 0935 hrs. I managed to pound something about LAN's assignment before Bashir, his daughter and I went for Tea Break at the old Car Park. We went there by JJK 657. We were lucky because our bill was covered by Ab Wahab, our Computer Programmer

We were back in office at around 1100hrs and countinued my pounding till 1320 when I decided to end the day in office. I, joined by Yus, TV Technician, left for home at around 1330 hrs via the new Muar Alor Gajah freeway and finally we made it home at around 1420 hrs.

After performing my Zuhr prayer, I had lunch. My wife, Azizah, prepared delicious fish curry, fried fish, fried sambal and cooked vegetable. Soon after I inhaled the poisonous smoke and I read the newspaper. While readin I collapsed into the noon siesta. Upon being awake at around 1640 hrs I performed the Asr prayer. Tea was served soon after.

I spent the rest of the evening with my beloved kiddos who are left behind by their mother. Abng, Anan and I rode my Kris to buy some food at Mad's Mini Market. At 1905 hrs I went for my Magrib prayer at AlNasirin. Immediaely after solat, I bought milk, chicken nugget, biscuits and potato chips for my kiddos. Solat prayer was performed at home at around 2050 hrs. I dined after Isy' prayer and immedately afte prayer I started to carry out LAN's assignment till 0100 this morning.

My sleep was interrupted at around 0230. Tahajjud and Hajat prayer and Yassin reading were performed soon after that. Then I tuned in the idiot box to view he Champions League. Unfortunately, Arsenal, my favourite team, were not covered life by Astro, so I decided to sleepat around 0330 hrs.

I was awakened by my hearthrob Abang at around 0640 hrs when I hurried solat Subh and read Yassin. As usual,I had my breakfast at around 0730 dan got dressed by 0800 hrs. Unfortunately my bowels failed me so I had to entertain the call of nature. By 0830 was was still at home and I decided to go on leave. I undressed and changed into some thing casual to be at home. I decided to wash my dirty car and I found out that the front left side signal was missing. Never mind that, I continued my washing.

Then I looked out for my handphone and switched it on.Luck was against me for the second time when the gadget wasn't able to display its menu. The only brightside was Icould still receive and dail calls without having the menu on the LCD.

Since I was on leave I managed to complete the LAN Assignment by 1030hrs. Alhamdulillah. I am free now and I am going to throw my time with my kiddos.

Back to Basics

2007-12-10T18:44:00.000-08:00

Tuesday Dec. 12, 2007
It has been six days that I have not been in city campus because I was on leave from Dec.5 to Dec. 10. On 5 and 6 Decemeber, I was on Dental Leave for having my tooth being extracted by Dr Mohd Suhaimi Kinan; I took my Annual Leave on Firday,Dec.7th and Saturday and Sunday were the normal weekends, while Monday Dec. 10, I was in UiTM Lendu to visit old friends.

It was fun and hilarious to meet old friends. Rhim snd I hsd T Break at Pasar Megong Alor Gajah. Rahim had 2 capatis and I had 2 tauseh. While we were eating, Farid, Aziz's wife, and Samrah joined me. Everything was on the house.

Last night was so beautiful because my beloved Abang spent the night with me. He did not disturb my sleep till 0600 hrs. Hastily I took my bath, performed my Subuh prayer and read my Yassin. I had my scrambled eggs and teh tarik at around 0730 hrs and headed for Melaka at around 0910 hrs. On arrival, I only saw Pak Chad's car while the rest were missing.

I finger-tagged and lifted to the 16th floor to see Nazi, PAR, and handed my LAN letter to be given to Dr Mizan. In return he handed me a UNITAR's application for BA (Hons), English. After signing the acceptance form I headed to the 8th floor. Soon I was drawn to read the documents. But I need a break snd tha's why I am pounding the keyboard to relay my reason from being away for six days from campus.

The semester break brings sadness and boredom because the students are on leave and the lecturers are free to be away from campus. For the past 22 years I have been experincing these boring life. Hopefully this break would be spend to complete my LAN Assignment.

Just fo the record, Dec.1, 2007 marked the 22nd year that I have been commuting from Muar-Melaka-Alor Gajah. I will pray that Allah swt would give give the strength, zest, iman and takwa to serve my contract till 30/9/2010. Insy'Allah.

Will the Tears Drop By

2007-12-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

Sunday Dec. 9, 2007
It's 0230 hrs in the morning, Sunday. Hopefully it would be a beautiful Sunday because I planned to swing my golf club with my buddies Hj Aziz, Hj Samsuddin and Cik Gu Aziz.

The day has been dry for the last 24 hours. Housewives were glad to wash and dry their clothings; children were happy running around the Tanjung Emas park; couples were seen jogging along the recreational parks and ice cool vendors were seen doing a frisk business. But it was rather unfortunate for a golfer like me who needed a turfmac all the time wasn't able to play because the course was still out of bound for turfmac.

So what did I do on Saturday then? Since my kiddos are in Muar, I took them for a morning ride, shopped at Petronas and finally we dropped by at the flea market buying some cakes for breakfast.

The day was filled with newspaper reading and watching the idiot box. In fact I watched two Hindi movies on Channel 2 and 3. As usual before lunch, I had my Zuhr prayer was . Asr prayer was performed durring the adverisement break.

My wife, Azizah, had a busy day helping out our neighbour to hold heir child's wedding reception today, Sunday. She was also invited to be in the groom's party to the bride's house.

I performed the Maghrib and Isy'prayer at AlNasirin. Dato' Shafik and his two friends droppedby while on his way to a political gathering in Bakri. After Isy' I read the Surah Yassin and followed by dinner.

At around 2330 hrs Shafik came to bid goodbye before heading to Kuala Lumpur.once he had left I tuned in to Astro to watch MU beating Derby 4-1 and Chalsea beating Sunderland. finally I decided to rest my day but before that I started to punch the keyboard again.

It's 0250 hrs now and before bidding goodbye for the morning I hope the sky and the cloud will not dropping tears again so that I would be able to swing my golf set at around 0800 hrs at Kelab Golf Tanjung Emas.

Adious.

Rainy Days are Here

2007-12-07T15:20:00.000-08:00

Saturday, December 8, 2007
It has been raining cats and dogs for the past few days. Malaysia is experiencing the North East Monsoon beginning from November '07 to March '08. The weather brings ain a lot of rain to the Eastern parts of Peninsular Malaysia, vis Kelantan, Trengganu, Pahang and Johor.

By Thursday, Dec.5, hundred of Johorians in Masai, Johor Bahru were evectuated to schools and community halls. The JPA, police and local authoritied were extensively deployed to provide the necessary aids to overcome the hardships faced by the flood victims

Luckily, my hometown, Muar, is always spared from the flood waters. The most beautiful thing to happen during the unpredicting weather was when my beautiful healthy and brilliant grandchildren, Abang, Anan and Akak, reached Muar at around 2020 hrs. What a sign of happiness on seeing and kissing them because I had missed them for more than two week. Abang, the eldest, is always cheerfl and afluent; Anan, s always the chubby and appy-go-lucky tot and Akak is always elegant and healthy girl.After spending a few minutes with them, I headed for the ANasirin Chapel for my Isya' prayer. Soon after the prayer, we were invited to a feast by En Daud which ended at around 2130 hrs.

I was homed by 2140. Pak Li and Ida were here till 2300 hrs. After their departure, I spent endless minutes to toy around wih my beloved kiddos till0130 hrs , Saturday, Dec.8. My Beloved Abangspent the night with me.

At 0615 I performed my Subuh prayer at home and I read my Yassin soon after that. Back to weather, it's not raining now and I hope it will this way till theend of the day because my neighbour, Cik Gu Omar, will be having a wedding reception for is son, Budn, tomorrow, Sunday. If it is to be a wet Sunday, the reception will be gloomy.

As I was punching the keyboard, the newson JB FM 104 mentioned about our PM's call to straighten the rivers in Johor. e had observed from the air about the croketness of the Johor rivers. he existing rivers have caused debris to block the river flow. Thus he sugested hat the rivers be mended through the 9th RMK.

Hopefully the flood woos would be over in Johor.

Thanks God It's Friday

2007-12-06T15:02:00.000-08:00

Friday Dec. 7, 2007
Thanks God It's Friday (TGIF) again. Friday is the awaited day for Muslims throughout the world because Islam consider this day as he the most important day of the week. Muslims would have to perform their weekly congregation at around noon today. Every Muslim must be prepared to perform the obligatory ritual by cleasing himself and wearing the best outfit. Everyone is epected to be early to the mosque in order of being rewarded for their tardiness.

Muslims Public Servants in this beautiful Malysia work shorter hours today. Business Hours for Government Departments will be from 0800 to 1200 and they will be back in business at 1445 till 1700 hrs. Not much can be done within this short operational business hours. All govenment servants have to finish their commitments before going for he long weekend, especially the people in Selangor who will be celebrating their Sultan's Birthday.

I am on my annual leave today. So what's is my plan today? Firstly after my Subuh Prayer in AlNasirin, I read my Surah Yassin. Breakfast would be at one of the Bringin stalls in Jalan Junid. No golfing for sure this morning because it's raining now. Maybe or maybe not we wold be heading to Batu Pahat to visit my siblings. That's not sure though.

What's brewing in the local dailies? Hindraft always take center stage. Is what they are trying to do for the ethnic Indians in Malaysia right? My humble and professional opinion is that the oganisation is barking at the wrong tree. Initially they voiced their concern about the Indians'plight in claiming compensaion from the British for transporting their parents from India to Malaya. This is absolutly absurd. If the African Americans, whose forefathers were brought by force to the US as slaves, then the US Government would run dry to pay their compensation.

Hindarf diverted thier economic vinditictness towards the British and focus on other matters that are being shared by other communities in this country. They complained about the detruction of the Hindu Temple in Selangor. The Selangor Government were doing the right thing by telling the temple to move to another place becuase it was built on a private land. In doing so, the Selangor Government had also demolished a surau (chapel). In Motherland India, hundred of Hindu Temples were demolished because they were built on privae land. No demonstrators or protestors took to the sreets of India because they now that the government is taking action according to the law of the country. Even the Muslims did not demonstrate when their chapel was demolished. On records, I think various state governments have demolished many suraus in this country without facing violent demonstration from the Muslim Malays of this country.

Hindraf claim that that there is ethnic cleasing in Malaysia. The Malay majority of this county is not like the Indians in India whereby it's not only ethnic, but religious cleansing too. The ruling elites in India never plan and want to help the dalits and Muslims. In fact they want to wipe out the untouchables and Muslims from India. Surprinsingly the leaders of this organisation are the Indian Malaysians who were brought up by the present day government. The government have given them opporuniies to have food, clothing, education, housing and that's why they have become lawyers now. I don't think anyone who is a dalit would ever dream of getting a tertiary education in India.

Agony of the Waiing Game

2007-12-05T11:53:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, December 6th, 2007
It's 0353 hrs, wee hours of Thursay morning. I was just awakened about half an hour ago just to watch my favourite team, Arsenal, to play against Newcastle United.

One of my weaknesses in life is I hate to wait. Waiting needs patience which is very thin in my dictionary. To wait me to be totally focus so that you will never miss the right moment of the appointment. While waiting you will not be free to do whatever you want to do for the fear of missing the right time will always haunt you. Your mind and soul would not be at ease; your brain would be functioning abnormally; your heartbeat would be inconsistent; your coolness would be slightly warmer and worst still the adralin in your body is disturbing your emotional steadastness.

Prophet Muhammad pbuh was once quoted that Patience is a part of Iman (Belief), hence a good Muslim must bear a great patiece in whatever he does. So maybe my patience is running thin now and I would tune in the idiot box.I's 0400 hrs now.

Adios. Kamusta.

Monday is here again (Oh No It's Monday)

2007-12-03T20:11:00.000-08:00

Monday, Dec.3, 2007
Monday is always the day when we still have the blues hanging above us. The day started with shower, Subuh prayer and Yassin reading. Immediately after that I had scrambled eggs and teh tarik. After breakfast I headed for Melaka.

The blues have engulfed the campus. Onle a few cars were around and I only met Md Nor and NorAzam were around. We had our T break at Raman's at around 1130.

Finally I left campus at around 1300 hrs.

Happy Birthday Darling

2007-12-01T16:15:00.000-08:00

Sunday, 2 December 2007
The EPL debut for the weekend was over with my favourite Arsenal proved its salt. The night before was spent alone because my wife was in Kajang preparing for my granddaughter's 3 rd Birthday.

Mariam Khatijah , a petite, intelligent, active and lovable, will be celebrating her 3 rd Birthday today in Kajang. I have to be away in Muar because I have to fulfil my friends' wedding invititation in Batu Pahat Johor. She is the youngest in a family of three. Her -year-old twin brothers are Abang and Farhan who are intelligent, active, inquisitive, healthy and lovable kiddos.

The three kiddos are children of Ab Latif, a Technical Assistant in TNB, and my daughter, Julianaa, RHB Banker in Kajang. These God-Gifted children are a joy to be with. I will spend every bretah and every minute of my time with them.

My other grandchildren are 4-year-old Fathin Alia and 2-year-old Aiman Daniel, cildren of Dato' Shafik Rizaal and Linda. Bothe are English speaking kids and are staying in Damansara.

My wife and I will always pray for their success in future.

We love you darling.

Great Day

2007-11-29T15:55:00.000-08:00

Well, Friday is here again. o be exact it is the 29th Day of November 2007. The form of the woed Friday hails the meaning of Free Day. What does it mean to be fre? ere are free to plan our weekend, Saturday and Sunday.

As an employee we must perform our maximum task before closing our job by 5pm today, while as an employer we must insist frm our employees that all work must be accomplished before the week end. Some people are so happy that they devise a motto, TGIF- Thanks God it's Friday.

To the Muslims, Fiday is the noblest day of the week. During the night, they will congregate in mosques praying and reading the Quran. Apart from that they would also perform Solat Tahajjud, Hjat and Taubat. Then they will perform solat Subuh in mosques and suraus before heading to their work place. Friday is rtaher hectic t Muslim workers because they have to stop working at 1215 and come bak to work at 144 During that short pell of time they have o perform the weekly Friday Paryer and they have to take their lunch. When they continue working at 1445 they will have only 2 hours and 15 minutes to accomplish whatever errands to be done before going for the two-day break.
The weekend begins after 1700 hrs today whre everyone will go hlter-skelter to spend the weekend. Friday is always the busiest day, even short working hours, of he week.

I hope you will have a pleasant and enjoyable weekend.

Iman and Takwa

2007-11-28T18:24:00.000-08:00

1.0: Objective
The objective of writing this article is to share what I know based on my experience and reading about the two important topics in our religious beliefs. Hopefully readers of this article, especially Muslim, will add some betterment of understanding the spirit of Iman and Takwa.

2.0: Iman
Iman is associated with belief. In Inslam, Muslims must believe in Rukun Iman. There are 6 Pillars of Rukun Iman
2.1: Believe in Allah swt
2.2: Believe in Prophet
2.3: Believe in Quran
2.4. Believe in Doomsday and The Day Of Resurrection
2.5: Believe in Fate
2.6: Believe in Angels

2.2.1: Believe in Allah swt
Muslims must have the believe (iman) that there must be a creator to everything in this universe. Conversely, we must believe that Allah swt is the only and sole creator of in in the uniververse, be it its structure, characteristics, animate and inanimates, hills, water, wind, souls, life and deather are at His will. Allah has only to utter, "Kun Paya Kun" if He wants something to happen. No other being, because He is the Supreme Being, can stop something from happening because Muslims believe,"There is no God except All swt who has the power over anything." Once we believe there is a Creator for everthing form the biggest to the smallest, virus, germs, etc, Muslims must believe that we are being created solely to be obstinated to Him.
There is another Commandments in Islam, i.e. the Rukun Islam. There are five pillars in Islam, the first being to say syahadah, i.e. There is no God except Allah swt and Muhammad is His Messenger. Second is to perform five daily prayers. Third is to fast in the months of Ramadan. Fourth is to pay Zakat and lastly is to perfomred Haj in Mecca to thos who are affordable.

Humans who have pledged his syahadah, must performthe four pillars in Rukun Islam failing which it will be sinful and punishable in hell. Allah swt said'" I didn't create Genes and man but to succumb to me." As Muslims we must adhere to the pillars of Rukun Islam without expecting anything in return because look at what Allah swt has given to us in this world and do we ask for something in return after fulfilling the orders given to you. We must perform our obligations sincerely and consistently. It will be ashamed to ask from your parents something in return for what that done to us.
2.2.2: Believe in Prophets
Muslims must believe that God has cretaed adn apppointed about more than 200000 people to be His messengers. Out of the prophets, only twenty-five were elevated to be higher echelon of the prophets, called Rasul, this included our Beloved Prophets. The lives and the teaching of the prophets can be read through Sunnah. We must inculcate the good values and the teachings of therese prophets without questions. It was the good effort made by these elected human that the people of the yester years embrace a religion Islam.
2.2.3: Believe in Al Quran
Quran is the Allah's Teachings to Mankind passed on via Gabriel who then passed on our Beloved Prophet Muhammad. It Muhammad and his loyal friends who read, intepret, prectised and carried on the dakwah to the people of Mecca, then Medina, then to the Arab world, to Africa, to the west and then to the rest of the world. Every word in the Quran is the word from Allah swt.
Hence Muslim must read the Quran daily, either through reading or praying. Siti Aishah, pbuh, was once asked about Muhammad's personality and her answer was, AlQuran." What she meant was Muhammad had lived according what was written in the Quran verbatimly. Even Muslims are at logged heads, they must turn to the Quran for reference and settlement. Quran is the gem of knowledge, be it in spiritual, economics, politics, sociology, anthropology, astrology, health, medicine, banking and anything or any subjects because He is our creator.
2.2.4: Believe in Doomsday
Muslims must belive nothing in this world is invulnerable. The world is only a temporary place to live in and we will move on to another world called Alam Akhirat. Numerous catastophic happening have destroyed cities, villages, volcanoe, buildings, tsunami, earthquake, fire and many more. These are the will of God, of course with the mankind as its agents, and then it will come to a time, God swt will summon an angel, Izrapil, to blow the final day of the world by blowing his trumpet. That is the day when pregnat mothers would deliver their babies unconsciously, the hills and mountains would be crushed and please refer to Quran and Hadis for the astrocities of the Doomsday.
Everything that is created by God will be demolished and died. The new world, Alam Akhirah, has begun. Good Muslims and Bad Muslim, non-Muslims will face our Creator. We will ony know our final destiny, whether it's going to be heaven or hell, after our meeting with our Supreme Being or Our Creator. Let's us do good and abstain from doing bad thing so that we will be placed in the right place where we belong.
2.2.5: Believe in Fate
The earlier statement of There is no God except Allah swt and He is responsible for anything to happen in this world. therefore, Muslims must believe whatever happen, good or bad to us, is because of Allah.But we must always remeber that Good Things come from Allah swt and the Bad Things come from us. Foor example, people are imprisoned for the bad things they did and they cannot say the bad things he did was from Allah swt. Allah swt has created mankind with mental faculty superior than other inmates and thus how can we say the bad things come from Allah?
2.2.6: Believe in Angels
Allah swt passed on His Teachings, Guidance, Advice about the religion was passed to an angel, rather then directly to the prophet. So we must belive that there angels, besides mankind, co-existed with mankind. These angels are obedient, subservient to Allah swt. They are the opposite of the satan whose mission is to destroy man's faith to Allah swt.
3.0: Takwa
Takwa is to be afraid of Allah swt. Being afraid means to do good and to abstain from doing Bad. Muslims must live according to the two commandants, i.e. Rukan Iman and Rukun Islam. No questions ask because failing to adhere and obey them Muslims must disqualify themselves from being called a Seravant of Allah swt. Take a simple example in performing our daily prayer. Male Muslims are allowed to perform solat by covering their aurah. Does it mean that male Muslima can pay by wearing a sarong? Of course the prayer is acceptable on the other hand will you meet your superior wearing a T-shirt , trousres and slippers. Man will groom themselves before meeting another man but they will wear the bearest minimum when they meet their Supreme Being. This man obviously does not possess takwa. To have takwa means to be afraid (fear) and show respect to Allah swt at all time.
4.0: Conclusion
To conclude this article, may I qoute what Allah swt says, "I don't create genes and man but to succumb to Me,". we, as Muslims, must at all time fear and believe in Allah swt in time of happiness, sadness, life and death. In our prayer we always pledge that Our Prayer, Our Doings, Our Life and Our Death are for Allah swt. So in whatever things we want to act upon must be solely for Him and if it is not, don't do it. We must do good and abstain from bad all our life beacuse we would not Know when the angel of death will come to send us to another world that is pepetual and aeternal.

Great Day

2007-11-28T18:12:00.000-08:00

Thursday Nov.29th, 2007
It's 0530 and a few minutes from the dawn of beautiful day. Without further ado I performed Subuh Prayer in AlNasirin together with Tabliq brothers from Pakistan. I had the opportunity to serve breakfst for them. Back home at around 0640 I read Yassin and then I had scrambled egg and Teh Tarik for breakfast.

I headed for Melaka at around 0825. After punching my attendance I quickly headed to Maybank to deposit some money to Dato' Shafik. Unfortunately the bank would only in business at 0915. So I had teh serbat with Zaaba at Raman's. At about 0930 I deposited RM 15000.00 into Shafik's account.

Having completed the transaction I went into my office at 1020. Now I'm hitting the keyboard to transfer what's in the mind i.e. something abstract into something concrete.

The weather is beautiful and I hope it will last the whole day. Insy'Allah.

Prayer of Success

2007-11-27T01:24:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, November 27, 2007
As a routine, after Subuh prayer and Quran reading, I had my simple breakfast, scrambled egg and teh tarik, and a bit tabioca speacial with sambal and salted fish.

I left for Melaka via the new highway around 0830 hrs. The fingure tag was touched at around 0910. On my way to do some photostating, I met Sulaiman and Wahid of HEP. We had snack at MARA building and left at around 1020.

Amin, Computer Technician, and I entered my room on the 8th floor.My desktop PC was scanned for virus and Amin tried to check my mails from drbano@steamyx.com. We failed to achive our`goals. Amin left at around 1030. The time was then spent to read Berita Harian and browsed through the net.

Finally I left City Campus at around 1300 and reached home at around 1250. Lunch was prepared and served bymy ever faithful wife Azizah. I performed my Zuhr prayer while waiting for lunch.

After lunch was siesta again. I woke up at around 1600 and performed my Asr prayer at 1640. My wife left for Damansara with Hj Mahzan and Hjh Noi at around 1725. I would be praying that everything will gon on well.

Time and Space

2007-11-26T20:27:00.000-08:00

Time and space do not belong to us. Allah is the designer and controller of time and space. How would we know that at a certain time and place we would be sent by our comapny to attend a seminar in London.
Basically Time is classified into day time and Night Time. In between the day and night time, we have the dawn, morning, afternoon, evening and mid-night.Who clasifies the day and night time totals 24 hours, 1 minute is 60 seconds and 60 minutes is an hour? Usually in major parts of the world which are not sub-divided into 4 seasons, the light and the dark hours are 12 hours.
When we have the time will we have the space? Sometimes we will have all the time, unfortunately we do not know where to go. Or we plan to go and visit some remote places on the planet earth but we do not have the time.

That's why we must believe that we are not His servants and our life and death is in His hand. Mllah swt. Muslims who pray five times daily would always pledge that, " All my prayer, deeds, life and death are totally for you Oh Allah swt. Hence as Muslims me must ask ourselves whether or not whatever we want to embark on anything is for Allah swt. If the answer is nay, abstain from doing it.

Hopefully we will live happily exclusively for Allah.

In Liew of 2020

2007-11-25T18:18:00.000-08:00

Malaysia, in its desired dream, would like to be declaared as one of the developed countries of the world. In order to be known as one, Malaysia must have the charateristics of the G7 countries.
1. Truely Democratic in every sense of the word.
2. The Legislative must must elected freely and orgnised by the Election Comission.
3. All Malaysians, regardless of race, religion and ethnics, must be given equally opportunities in Education, Business, Administration, Economics, etc
4. All Malaysians must be given the rights to assemble, move and freedom of expression
5. Maintain the Separation of Powers in the true spirit of separation

Referring to no (1), the ruling party must ensure that the candidates stang for election are free from money-politiics. There should be any registration fee for any election. The government machinery, tranportation, security personnel, mass media and government premises, must not used in carrying ou their political campaign. Postal voters must be stopped. Voters must must vote in thier working place.

No (2) refers. The Election Commissions is solely the Guardian of the GeneralElection. It must be headed by non-government servat but a former judges whose integrity of the highest degree. EC should only be answerable to the King

No (3) refers. Malaysian children should be given equal opportunities in getting education under one medium. All vernicular scholls, Chinese and Tamils , must be closed. All Boardind SChools must be open to everyonee. Student's-Other-Langguages, Mandarin, Tamil, Dusun, Kadazan, Javanese and Arabic, msut be taught in schools. Universities must be open to everyone.The medium of instructions in schools , colleges, politechnics and universities must be in Bahasa Melayu and Engllish as the Stdents Second Language.
Every able-bodied Malysians who posses the necessary business credentilas must be allow to bid for government tenders. They must compete on equal ground rather than Bumi and Non-Bumi status. The award of tenders must be free of political interventions. There should be any contract be awarded to a RM 2 Comapny which has either the means and expertise to carry out the project. Any politicians who want to be involved in business must resign impromto because all these years the eceonomy has been going bad because billions of ringgit wnet down the drain because these irresponsible plolitician have awarded biillion dollar contracts too their cronies resulting in the under performance building, aeropleness and other infrastructure.

No (4) refers. The government of a developed country to offer their citizens the right to speak,write and assemble. All Third-World Counntries, including Singapore,
are governing their countries not conforming to Human Rights. Look at US, UK and other Europen Countries, demaonstration is a sign of Democratic country. Hundred of thousands Anericlans paraded in Washiton, Lon, Brussells, nad other G7 countries, and the police were there to safegurad that no life is being taken by the demonstrators. They were given their right to demonstrate, peak and write without any permit. As long as permit is needed for you to voice out your basic rights,, then you are not a citizen of a free country. We should, sometimes, commend Indis for being a bit advance in Human Rights by allowing its citizens to demonstrate freely. Therefore the government to repeal Sedition Act, Right of Assembly and Internal Security Act should be repealed.

No (5) refers. The Executive must not have an iota of interference in the appointment of the Judges. The Judicial System must not be under the Public Service Commission. Maybe the Chief Judge of Malaysia must be elected rether than appointed by the people.

In conclusion, Malaysia would not be recognised as a developed countries uanless and untill we adhere to the norms of developed country.

Hard Times

2007-11-25T17:27:00.000-08:00

Saturday, Nov. 25th, 2007
This day is a highly sought day for everyone., including me. Prior to this day, Friday, a noble day for every Muslim, whereby we, Muslims, have to obey our weekly spiritual obligations at noon. Earlier on that day, after I had performed my daily Subuh oblution, I pursued doing my morning routine of reading the Surah Yassin.

After my breakfast at around 7.00 am, I left for UiTM Melaka. Nothing much had been accomplished here besides marking some assignments and reading newspaper. At about 1000 am I had breakfst with a Security Perssonnel by the name of Jani. At noon I left campus heading for home. I safely reached Muar at around 1245 and changed my shirt and performed my weekly Friday Prayer. Soon after lunch, I had my siesta till around 3.30 pm. I performed my Asr Prayer at 1630 pm. Cakes and coffee were served by my responsible and accountable beloved wife.

As my Kriss was still under repair, I abstained from performing my nighly Maghrib and Isya' Paryers in the nearby Surau. Being away from Surau I was able to make sins by wasting my time watching the idiot box till 11.00. Good Night.

Saturday was here again. My life began with the prayer and Quran Reading. Then I had my breakfast and at around 1025 hrs, my wife, her niece and I. left for Kajang. We aere in Kajang at around 1245 and had to wait for about 15 minutes before my beloved kiddoes arrived. Zuhr was Qashed with Asr and after that I had my siesta again, but this time along with my beloved Abang. We woke up around 1600 hrs. We spent greaat moments together, as usual, plaling with their toys, reading their story books and respondin to inquisitive questions from my beloved Anan. Akak Yam, my youngest grand daughter wasn't that well. Alhamdullillah she got through the situation through the night.

My wife, dauughter and her husband and children and the niece went for dinner at KFC. I didn't join them because I wasn't feeling good. Meanwhile I spent the time making some more sins by watching Liverpool beating Portmouth 3-0. My family was back at around 2220 hrs. My kiddos spent some happy moments relaying their experience during their night-out. As for me it was on and off conscious. Finally I woke up at around 0130 hrs. What happened to me then? It was making the sins again. along the night, Dato' Shafik sent SMS relaying his love to us after findng discripencies with his wife Linda. I was devastated on reading the text. Albeit I am more experienced and older, I was helpless in confronting marital problems. My prayer to Allah was to give back the love they had all these while.

At 0530 hrs I performed my Subuh Prayer but not the Quran Raeding. Brekfast was served at around 0830 hrs. Everone left Kajang to go for Apit's Wedding at arount 100 hrs. Along the way we saw Federal Reserve Units controlling the HINDRAF demoonstration at around Hulu Klang area. We dropped by at Mak Nah's around 1115 hrs and took her along to Sri Gomabak for Apit's Wedding. All my children and grandchildren minus my Shafik's children, Fathin and Aiman, my son and daughter-in-laws. Everone in the Hj Ab Rahman's Family was there. Apit's second wedding went on beautifully. We finally left for Muar without forbading Good byes to my beloved kiddos. Alhamdullillah we made it to Muar around 1600hrs. Luckily I managed to performed my Zuhr's paray befire its time expired. Soon after I performed my Asr prayer too.

As my Kris wasn't avaiable I abstained again from the Surau. Magghrib and Isya' were performed at home. The night was spent on making sins again by watching and believibg the idiot box again until mid-night to bear the news from the Night Line. Good Night

High Expectation

2007-11-23T05:42:00.000-08:00

The recent demise of a twelve-year-old sudent in Penang has drawn me to contribute my perspecive of day's high expectation of paents to their academic achievements. It is not a crime to set goals in our lives. Eery living soul must possess some form of dreams and ambitions in life, but let us not overstep our capabilities.
Children are born form a marriageof two sexes. The paents intelligence is thus passed on o their children. Let us ponder on a couple whose academic achievement is of high quality. Unfortunately the parents did not pursue their studies due to economics or family constraints so they end up being ordinary breadwinner. Chilren who areborn from parents of this category are intelligent and highly motivated in schools. Hence we have children of rubber tappers, lrry drivers or security guard who perform extremely excellence in heir academic endeavours.
Convesely they are children who are born from parents who were not interested in their studies in shools and when they are raising their families they expect their children to be high achievers. The parents have high expectation of their children to do wellin their studies. Unfortunately the children inherited their parents' intelligence which is contrary to simple science, i.e. A coconut tree will never bare apples.
There are three factprs that contribute to the success of an individual in their studies. The first factor is hereditory. Children inherit their parents' intelligence, attitudes and goals in life. A child who is born from a father whose intelligents is low, will never excel in his stuidies. In addition a child will also inherit his parents' positive or negativeattitudes toward life and the child will also possess low self esteem as his father.
The second factor is he environment. A child is deprived of heebasic infrasture at home will find it hard to study. Thus thiswill hinder is motivatio to excel in his studies.
The final factor in achild's road to success is his peers. A child may have intteligent parents, excellent infrastructure ate home, but he mixes with the wrong peers who are unintereseted in their studies may coax him to stray away from working hard in his studies.
A child who misses one of the three factor may end in a doom. So parents of whatever catogory must ponder his soul to ask themselves whether they themselves are interested in studies when hey were young because our children are our clone of us. Know thyself before you know thy God. Henceif you yourself are the mediocre intelligence how dare you expect yourchildren o be excellent?
Parents who are inteligent and have the means to provide the best study environment totheir children must be concerned with their peers. A child who missess one of the three factors may end up being mediocre.
So let us band togetgether to observe seriously about the three factors so that the tragic demise of the twelve-year-old girl in Penang becomes an isolated case in our society

Weather

2007-11-23T03:26:00.000-08:00

Come tomorrow, I would have stayed away from my golfing for about six`months due to the unpredictable Malaysian weather. The golf course, Kelab Golf Tanjung Emas, Muar, still forbids turf to roll on the course, whereby I have to forgo my leisure time of golfing.
Maybe God's willing I may be able to hit the balls in December.

Solemn Fraternity

2007-11-23T03:20:00.000-08:00

Once a while the boat we are sailing rocks from time to time due to wind speed, the water temperature, the human mood, the waves and sometimes due to the Almighty. It is He who creates and finds a partner for us. What we can do is pray for His right choice for us. We, as His creation is hapless in figting nature.
The hills along the highways start to crumble; the sock market keeps on falling and many many more happening beyond our control.
Let us pray that we will be blessed by Him forever.

Beloved Family

2007-11-23T02:25:00.000-08:00

From a couple, Saaban and Azizah, bears three children, Julianaa, Shafik Rizaal and Mohammad Asshad. Alhamdullillah our family has multiplied through the years. Our oldest grandchild, Fatih, 4, and our twin grandsons, Abang andAnan, who has a younger sister, Mariam Khatijah, 2, and finally our youngest grandson, Aiman.
All our kids and grandchildren are in KL and kajang while weare in Muar

Kiddos Successes

2007-11-22T19:51:00.000-08:00

Our only daughter, being the eldest, Julianaa, 36 year old RHB Banker, works in Kajang Selangor. Her academic achievements include Diploma in Business Studies, UITM and Bachelor in Business Administration (Marketing), UITM, is mariied to Ab Latif and is blessed with a pair of twin sons and a beautiful daughter.Our twins, Abang and Anan, are 4 years old now and our beloved Akak, Maryam Khatijah, is going to celebrate her 3rd birthday on Dec. 2nd, 2007.

Our second son, Dato' Shafik Rizaal, 33, is married to Haslinda. Both are graduates from Staffordshire University, UK and UiTM respectively. They are blessed with my beloved dgrandaughter, Fathin Alia, 4, and my chubby and active Aiman, 2. Shafik is running a group of companies, SNC Group of Companies in Damanasara.

Our youngest and beloved son, Mohammad Asshad, 25,a Computer Scientist from UiTM, is currently helping his brothe's business.

Mariam Kahtijah's 3rd Birthday

2007-11-22T19:43:00.000-08:00

Our beautiful , helathy and dear granddaughter, Mariam Khatijah Bt Ab Latif, would be celebrating her 3rd Birthday on Sunday, December 2, 2007. May Allah bless her wth takwa, iman , intelligence and Good Health.

Datukship for Shafik

2007-11-22T19:41:00.000-08:00

Our 33-year-old son Shafik Rizaal was conferred Datokship from HRH Sultan of Pahang.

The Day Malaysians Cry

2007-11-22T19:33:00.000-08:00

The great days of our automobile industry is heading for the Straits ofMelaka. Initially, Malaysia, besides Japan and South Korea, is hailed as another major player in the automobile industry when the former PM Tun Dr Mahathir lauched our very own car called Proton Saga.
The traffic scenario changed daily. The roads are being rolled over by Malaysian made cars. After Proton Saga, Mira, Kancil, Kijang, Iswara, Gen 2, Savvy and Juara followed.
Unfortunately Proton hit a snag when Korean and Chinese cars were allowed to roll on our PLUS Highways. This has hattered the dreams of Proton and efforts were made to work together with BMW but it faailed to materiaise and suddenly, our PM annouced that Proton is to suvisve on its own efforts. Thus the shre prices for Proton fell.